Home » Africa » UN Tourism Opens New Academy in Zimbabwe to Boost Culinary Skills in Africa
Monday, July 29, 2024
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The United Nations Tourism Organization has taken a major step towards promoting education and skills development in Africa by establishing the region’s first collaborative academy.
With tourism growing rapidly in Africa, there is an urgent need for skilled professionals with the expertise required for modern tourism. To address this, UN Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Zambia Ministry of Tourism to establish the ZITHS Mukuni International Tourism and Hospitality Academy. The Academy will offer a range of courses designed to equip both new entrants and existing tourism workers with the skills they need to gain employment and advance in their careers.
Laying the cornerstone in Livingstone, Secretary-General Pololikashvili said: “Africa’s tourism sector is growing and diversifying at an incredible rate. These new academies, in partnership with UN Tourism, will train tomorrow’s tourism workforce in a range of specialisms, providing the talent needed for Africa’s tourism industry to thrive.”
Zambia’s Minister of Tourism, Rodney M. Sikumba, who signed the agreement with the Secretary-General, said: “The adoption of the UN Tourism Education Guidelines has enabled Zambia to redefine the role of education in tourism development. The establishment of the Academy marks a milestone in how we bridge the glaring skills gap between current and future employees in our country’s tourism sector.”
Plans to establish a culinary arts academy in Zimbabwe
The United Nations Tourism Organization has announced plans to establish the Africa International Tourism Culinary Arts Academy in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe. The specialized center, located in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, will focus on training skilled culinary professionals from across Africa. The announcement was made in conjunction with the first United Nations Tourism Africa Gastronomic Tourism Forum, an event celebrating the diverse culinary traditions of the African region and bringing together key players from both the public and private sectors.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Barbara Luwozi, said: “We are delighted to be working closely with UN Tourism to develop gastronomy tourism in the country and the region. Our new Academy in partnership with UN Tourism demonstrates our shared determination to build the capacity of tourism practitioners in the field of culinary arts and put Zimbabwe firmly on the global gastronomy map.”
