HARARE, July 27 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday urged African countries to implement robust and innovative strategies to promote their traditional cuisines to position the continent as an attractive gastronomy tourism destination.
While opening the first UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa in Zimbabwe's resort town of Victoria Falls, the president said Africa's unique cultural heritage, food, and drink offer immense opportunities for further expansion of the continent's tourism sector.
"For us to fully benefit from gastronomy tourism, I challenge stakeholders in the sector to continually innovate by developing new products and services," he said. "Robust strategies should be implemented to scale up the promotion of gastronomy-related tour packages, food festivals, and cooking classes, among others, to make Africa an attractive gastronomy tourism destination."
Mnangagwa noted that while global tourism has recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, Africa's share of global tourism performance remains low.
He said Africa needs to continue leveraging its unique natural and cultural offerings, including food and cuisines, as they are a key driver for the transformation of the continent's economy.
The forum, which runs from July 26 to 28, has brought together a cross-section of experts to explore the transformative potential of gastronomy tourism for the benefit of local communities and the environment, and to foster regional cohesion and resilience. ■
