UNWTO Media and Tourism Workshop, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (English)

UNWTO Media and Tourism Workshop, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (English)

UNWTO brought together top tourism and travel practitioners of 20 countries from across Africa to explore ways to deliver more effective tourism communications and showcase the sector’s role as a pillar of development.

The first Communications, Media and Tourism Training Workshop in Africa (Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, 13-15 November) recognized the heightened relevance of tourism and the current opportunity to gain greater visibility outside of the sector itself. Based on this premise, the three-day event focused on the opportunities for placing tourism in the mainstream conversation as well as the ongoing challenges facing communities, destinations and Africa as a region.

- My name is Lamia Benadada. I'm come from Morocco. I'm the head of communication in the Moroccan National Tourism Office. We are in charge of promotion of touristic destinations and experiences in Morocco. I would like to thank you for inviting me in this two-days workshop because I gained a lot of information and I discovered a wonderful country. I must admit, it's my first country in Africa and I just love the hospitality and the smile of people. It's always good to benchmark and to have comparison with other countries to know if we are in the good path for promotion.

- My name is Norah Takaindisa. I'm the Deputy Director for Communications and Advocacy, Ministry of Yourism and of Hospitality Industry Zimbabwe. I would like to thank the UNWTO for bringing the media and communications training and tourism in Africa to our country because it boost our tourism in the country. And I have learned a lot. I have learned that you can separate tourism with the media. So I look forward to more exciting journey with the UNWTO. Thank you.

- My name is Mamou Suwaneh and I am senior officer marketing and communications, Gambian Tourism Board. And I'm here to represent my office and The Gambia by far. I have learned a lot to tell you. For example, pitching stories, it's something I find to be very interesting. I've been writing stories, but now I understood even better how to improve on this. And of course, another unique thing I learned is destination diversification. For example, in the Gambia, now I'll be able to, you know, improve and diversify our various destinations and even using our stocks better to improve our level of outreach, awareness, et cetera. And of course, storytelling was another unique aspect that I like. And then how best to connect that to the human side, because tourism cannot go without that connection between the people and the visitor. So this I think, has been very unique and special, but much more an eye catching moment for me would be the visit of Victoria Falls, which has brought professional attachment to me. And of course, as an individual.