Victoria Falls hosts first regional forum on gastronomy tourism in Africa

The inaugural Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa, organised by UN Tourism, was launched in Victoria Falls, a pivotal advancement for the continent and its host nation. The event underscored Zimbabwe’s dedication to harnessing gastronomy as a powerful engine for sustainable tourism development, both locally and across Africa.

Opening the landmark event, UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said, “It is only right we now meet in one of the world’s most exciting gastronomy regions – Africa! We leave Victoria Falls with a roadmap that will enable us to build an Agenda for Gastronomy Tourism in Africa, to ensure that we do work to make gastronomy tourism benefit people and planet.”

Harnessing gastronomy for transformation

Discussions at the forum highlighted how gastronomy tourism can transform local communities and economies across Africa. Delegates explored ways to elevate Africa’s profile in global tourism and strategies to integrate gastronomy into national tourism policies. A key focus was on promoting Africa’s rich culinary heritage, with a strong emphasis on collaboration among chefs, policymakers, and stakeholders.

Participants addressed the critical need for effective funding and the significance of merging tradition, innovation and quality to craft unique culinary tourism experiences.

Encouraging culinary innovation

The event featured the UN Tourism Regional Gastronomy Pitch Challenge, which showcased innovative solutions aimed at enhancing the gastronomy and tourism sectors in Africa. UN Tourism and the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry of Zimbabwe recognised the winners of the Youth Photo Contest, A Journey through Zimbabwe´s Gastronomy. 

Furthermore, four new ambassadors were appointed as African UN Tourism Ambassadors for Responsible Tourism, recognising their contributions to promoting national cuisines and advocating for sustainable culinary practices: Chef Yohanis Gebreyesus from Ethiopia, Chef Adenike Adefila from Nigeria, Chef Mounir El Arem from Tunisia and Chef Carl Joshua Ncube from Zimbabwe.  

Establishment of Culinary Arts Academy in Zimbabw

In a significant development, an MoU was signed to establish the Zimbabwe International Tourism Academy for the Culinary Arts in collaboration with UN Tourism. This initiative demonstrates a strong commitment to skill development and education, highlighted by the announcement of 100 UN Tourism Academy online scholarships aimed at cultivating culinary talent across Africa. The next edition of the Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa will take place in Tanzania.