The VA TourismPodcast

In this conversation, the CEO of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa explains in detail the landmark ruling of SA’s Competition Commission on the Removal of price parity clauses between online travel agent (OTA) Booking.com and contracted accommodation providers in South Africa and what it means for the industry especially for Tourism SMEs.

In this episode, the Acting CEO of the Namibia Tourism Board Charmaine Mathues reflects on the Board’s successful ‘’Reason to Visit Namibia’’ Roadshow in Botswana. Charmaine believes the partnerships formed and the B2B engagements with the trade, coupled with the announcement by Air Botswana to launch direct flights between the two cities will further boost trade and tourism into Namibia and the sub-region.

Today’s episode discusses Mozambique’s potential as a growing MICE Destination. The General Manager of Radisson Blu Hotel Maputo Rob Van der Velden weighs in on the country’s Meetings space and why he thinks a lot needs to be done to address the challenges to unlock its full potential. Rob gives his impressions on FIKANI, Air connectivity and the diversification of its offering.

In today’s episode recorded on the sidelines of FIKANI Tourism Fair in Mozambique, the newly appointed Director for Africa of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Frank Murangwa outlines his vision for Africa and discusses the continent’s readiness to make MICE and Business events sectors key economic drivers.

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.

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.

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. 

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

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.

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.