DAR ES SALAAM, July 28 (NNN-DAILYNEWS) — TANZANIA is set to host the Second United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism) Regional Forum on Gastronomy for Africa for the year 2025.
This was revealed on Friday by UN Tourism Secretary General Zurab Pololikashvili at the official opening of the first UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy for Africa in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.
Pololikashvili expressed gratitude to Tanzania’s Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism Angellah Kairuki for her cooperation and commitment to market indigenous food tourism.
He said his organisation is ready to cooperate with African countries in marketing African culture especially gastronomy.
“Africa is not only for safaris and viewing natural landscapes, but we also want to show the world that Africa is rich in culture, especially food tourism which is a big part of our culture,” he emphasised.
The Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Angellah Kairuki, said that the hosting of the forum in Tanzania will have great benefits in promoting the entire value chain in tourism, including food tourism, especially by involving many stakeholders including farmers, livestock keepers, fishermen, grain producers, oil processors, among others.”
“We have one year for preparations and we will strategise well to ensure that Tanzania showcases the vast heritage and wealth we possess as a country, but is also an opportunity to enhance our tourism sector,” said Kairuki.
She explained that through the platform, there will be various competitions to showcase creativity where students and professionals from several institutions will have the chances to exchange experiences and skills with their counterparts from other African countries.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer for National College of Tourism Tanzania, (NTC) Dr Florian Mtey, commented that hosting the gastronomy Forum in Tanzania will be a significant opportunity for them as a tourism academic institution because is part of their training as they train on preparing various cuisines including organising food cooking festivals.
The Forum was officially opened by the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa who’s boldly emphasised on the importance of agriculture sector in food tourism. — NNN-DAILYNEWS
