The VA TourismPodcast

CEO of Uganda Tourism Board Lilly Ajarova gives a sneak peek of its new 10 year Tourism plan

My conversation today takes a look at Uganda’s tourism sector and how its soon to be launched 10-year Tourism development plan incorporates elements such as gastronomy tourism. In a chat with the CEO of the Uganda Tourism Board Lilly Ajarova at the recently held UN Tourism Forum for Gastronomy tourism in Zimbabwe, she mentioned how the conference was timely and the take outs with help them fine tune their gastronomy and agro tourism sectors.
 

Elevating African Gastronomy: Insights from Director General of Basque Culinary Centre Joxe Mari Aizega

On Today’s episode, the Director General of the Basque Culinary Centre Joxe Mari Aizega unpacks the potential and opportunities for gastronomy tourism in Africa. Speaking on his experience during the first UN Tourism maiden gastronomy forum held in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, Joxe Mari said he was excited by the genuine interests and commitments by African tourism to develop the sector and place African gastronomy on the world stage.
 

Charting a new path for DR Congo's Tourism Sector: An exclusive chat with Minister of Tourism Didier Musanga M’pambia

In today’s episode, the Minister of Tourism of the Democratic Republic of Congo Didier Musanga M’pambia opens up on his vision for the sector. Amongst the list of innovations he wants to introduce is to initiate a Tourism Village project, an aggressive domestic tourism campaign, and consolidate its rich relationship with UN Tourism to support capacity building and human resource development for its tourism sector. 
 

Sierra Leone's Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Nabeela Tunis unpacks outcomes of 67th CAF Meeting and First Gastronomy event in Africa

On the sidelines of the just ended 1st UN Tourism Regional Forum for Gastronomy Tourism in Zimbabwe, the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs Nabeela Tunis reflects on the outcomes of the 67 Commission for Africa Meeting in Zambia, 2nd Brand Africa conference and finally the role of the Women in Tourism Leadership Africa Committee in ensuring gender parity in the tourism sector. Minister Nabeela also gave an update on Sierra Leone’s Tourism sector following the launch of its Masterplan

⁠Countdown to 2nd UN Tourism Brand Africa Conference: ZTA Chief shares insights

Ahead of the 2nd UN Tourism Conference on Brand Africa scheduled to be held from 22-24 July in Livingstone, Zambia, I caught up with the CEO of the Zambia Tourism Agency Matongo Matamwandi to give me a sneak peek of the gathering. He tells me the Tourism Board CEO’s Think Tank and the launch of the UN Tourism Doing Business Investing in Zambia Guidelines will be major highlights of the 2-day event.
 

Nigeria's Minister of Tourism Lola Ade-John on her vision for the sector

In today’s episode, Nigeria’s Minister of Tourism Lola Ade-John reveals her plans to use the technology to transform the country’s tourism sector. Attending UN Tourism event for the first time in Barcelona, Spain she added that, her ministry is working closely with her counterpart at culture to leverage Nigeria's rich cultural heritage.

Professor Bhaso Ndzendze dissects the Africa by Bus Project and its Impacts on Students

My conversation today is with Professor Bhaso Ndzendze an Associate Professor of international Relations at the University of Johannesburg, where he is also Vice-Dean of Internationalisation in the Faculty of Humanities. He discusses the Africa by Bus project which he says combines cultural immersion and academic engagements to enhance the learning skills of students.
 
 

Our new convention centre will make Malawi a competitive MICE Destination- Sunbird Tourism PLC

My conversation is with Temwa Kanjadza, Head of Sales Marketing and Distribution at Malawi’s Sunbird Tourism PLC. Temwa gives an overview of the hotel group’s incredible role in Malawi’s tourism sector and reveals the hotel’s latest announcement, the construction of its state-of-the-art convention centre and its MICE focus for the domestic and regional markets.