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Ivan Zhakata & Joshua Muswere
Through First Lady Amai Mnangagwa’s exceptional work, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation will be assisting the country to build the first African gastronomy school, said the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Barbara Rwodzi during an interactive session with the media in Harare, yesterday.
This comes as the country is hosting the Inaugural Africa Regional Tourism Gastronomy Forum from July 26 to 28, in Victoria Falls.
Gastronomy tourism is the exploration of food as the purpose of tourism. It reflects the culture, heritage, traditions and sense of community of different people and a way of promoting understanding among different cultures, and brings people and traditions closer together.
The benefits of gastronomy tourism include attracting tourists, enhancing the overall tourism experience, creating employment, boosting revenue for local businesses and fostering cultural exchange.
In order to reach its goal of US$5 billion by 2025, the nation’s tourism industry is on a growth trajectory and is currently at a vital crossing point.
“Her Excellency, the First Lady Dr Auxilia Mnangagwa, led a delegation as she was nominated to attend this forum as they wanted to award her for work in promoting gastronomy tourism in the country since 2019 to 2023.”
“Through the First Lady’s exceptional work, UN tourism is assisting Zimbabwe to build the first Africa Tourism Gastronomy School in Victoria Falls,” said the minister.
Furthermore, in a landmark move to promote sustainable and inclusive growth, the UNWTO selected Zimbabwe to host its first Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa in Victoria Falls from the 26th to the 28th of July 2024.
The UN Tourism secretary general, Zurab Poloikashvili is expected to attend the summit.
Minister Rwodzi emphasized the significance of this forum, restating the key lessons learned and outlining the steps the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality is taking to ensure a successful session.
“This effort is not about just attracting tourists, but job creation through the empowerment of communities, particularly, marginalised communities and driving economic growth.
“UN tourism itself has a vision and a strategy of sustainable tourism that it wants to achieve by 2063 that will be achieved through environmentally friendly infrastructure, in bringing in communities so that everyone benefits from their heritage.
“As we build up to the first Africa Gastronomy Forum, national cookout competitions have been completed across the country since 2019, but this year we have evolved and brought on board Higher and Tertiary Education and the Ministry of Agriculture.”
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Tongai Mnangagwa reiterated that the ministry has released information on the forthcoming gastronomy forum, explaining how the it is working to ensure that the tourism sector remains on an accelerated growth trajectory.
“The ministry has shared information on the upcoming forum and we’ve also highlighted strategic initiatives including sustainable practices and collaborative partnerships aimed at ensuring that Zimbabwe is a top-tier destination on the global tourism map”.
“We’ve highlighted strategic initiatives including infrastructure development through the Zimbabwe Tourism Fund,” he said.
Mr Owen Mumba a tourism player said the building of Africa’s first ever gastronomy school in the country is a blessing to the motherland.
‘We have a lot of schools in Zimbabwe but a few are focusing on tourism and gastronomy, so the establishment of this will aid the economic growth of the country in a number of ways and therefore it is a step in the right direction.”
One of the best gastronomy schools in the world is located within the city of Lyon, France, the Institute Paul Bocuse. It is well recognised for its prestige and approaches that are traditional, yet modern.
Online Reporter