Ashly DhaniBusiness Writer
Tourism activities in Victoria Falls are set for a major boost after the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) agreed to set up the Africa International Tourism Academy for Culinary Arts in the resort city to train professionals in the culinary arts in the continent.
With arrivals on a growth trajectory, tourism is one of Zimbabwe’s fastest growing sectors expected to drive the country’s economic turnaround.
The Government has since made significant strides on the implementation of the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy that seeks to grow the tourism economy to US$5 billion next year.
The National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy is anchored on Zimbabwe’s vision to be a prime international tourist destination based on the judicious and sustainable exploitation of the unique assets of nature, culture, heritage and the built environment.
The strategy is informed by the Government’s Vision 2030 to become an upper middle-income society characterised by increased investment, decent jobs and a populace free from poverty and corruption.
UNWTO said in a statement that with African tourism experiencing significant growth, there is now an urgent need to train a wide range of skilled professionals, all equipped with the skills modern the sector needs.
“Tourism has also agreed to establish the Africa International Tourism Academy for Culinary Arts.
“The specialist centre will be hosted in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and focus on training skilled professionals in culinary arts both within the country and right across Africa,” said UNWTO.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Barbara Rwodzi, was quoted as saying: “We are excited to be working closely with UN Tourism to grow gastronomy tourism in our country and across the wider region.
“The new academy in collaboration with UN Tourism signals our shared commitment to empowering tourism workers within the field of culinary arts, putting Zimbabwe firmly on the global gastronomy map.”
Meanwhile, the UNWTO has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Tourism of Zambia to establish the Zambia Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Studies.
The academy will offer a range of courses, all focused on equipping students both new to the sector and establish tourism workers the skills they need to find work or advance in their careers.
UNWTO secretary-general, Zurab Pololikashvili, was quoted as saying: “Africa’s tourism sector is growing and diversifying at a tremendous rate.
“These new academies in collaboration with UNWTO will help train the tourism workers of tomorrow in a range of specialisms, giving African tourism the talent it needs to thrive.”
Zambia Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba, said through the adoption of the UN Tourism Education Guidelines, Zambia has been able to reposition the role of education in tourism development.
“The establishment of the academy is a game changer of how we will bridge the evident skills gap for the existing and future workforce of our tourism sector,” he said.
Bongani Ndlovu