UN Tourism Hosts First Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa at Victoria Falls
UN Tourism is set to host its inaugural Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa, furthering its commitment to making gastronomy tourism a cornerstone for sustainable and inclusive growth throughout the continent.
The Forum, scheduled for 26-28 July 2024, will take place at the iconic Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. This event will be held under the patronage of the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Her Excellency Dr. Auxillia C. Mnangagwa, and is co-organized with the Basque Culinary Center. The aim is to harness the transformative potential of gastronomy tourism to benefit local communities and regions across Africa.
As part of the UN Tourism Agenda for Africa – Tourism for Inclusive Growth, this Forum will focus on establishing a roadmap for a unified agenda for African Gastronomy Tourism. Ministers of Tourism from various African nations and the FAO Representative in Zimbabwe will participate in discussions to strategize on propelling African gastronomy onto the global stage. Key topics will include policy development to enhance gastronomy tourism and its role as a development driver. Additionally, attendees will participate in technical visits to various regional sites.
Highlighting the importance of innovation, the Forum will feature a pitch challenge where entrepreneurs will present scalable solutions to address regional challenges in the gastronomy and tourism value chains. Keynote speeches and panel discussions will emphasize sustainable practices in gastronomy tourism, such as local sourcing and minimizing food waste.
The Forum will host experts and chefs, including Chef Fatmata Binta, UN Tourism Ambassador for Responsible Tourism, and representatives from the Ghana Food Movement, Chef Adenike Adefila from Nigeria, Chefs in Africa (Rwanda), and Chef Mounir El Arem from Tunisia. These professionals will present their initiatives, discussing their impact on local communities and their role in fostering positive change and advancing education and skills.
Alongside the Forum, the UN Tourism Youth Photo Contest titled "A Journey through Zimbabwe's Gastronomy" will invite Zimbabwean communities to capture and express the essence of their gastronomic heritage. The call for participation is open from 10 June to 1 July.
Zimbabwe has demonstrated strong commitment to positioning gastronomy as a vital component of sustainable tourism development in Africa. This commitment is evidenced by initiatives such as the Regional Traditional Gastronomy Festival, endorsed by Zimbabwe’s First Lady as the National Tourism Patron, held annually since 2019. Zimbabwe has also actively participated in previous editions of the World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism.
The Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa at Victoria Falls promises to be a landmark event, driving forward the sustainable growth of tourism through the rich and diverse culinary traditions of Africa.
