Tourexpi
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.
“Leaning by doing”
Reflecting UNWTO’s collaborative approach to
communications, the workshop prioritised active learning among both
participants and trainers. To gain a better understanding of why tourism
matters and of how this needs to be communicated, the first day began with
visits to three case studies in and around Victoria Falls:
Tourism for Wildlife Conservation: A visit to the
Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust provided an opportunity to see community-led
conservation in action, offering a better understanding of where tourism is
supporting wildlife protection and where it can do more.
Tourism for Development: Face-to-face meetings with
the leaders and members of Umuzi Village made clear the challenges small
destinations face in gaining access to the benefits tourism can offer,
particularly with regards to outreach, communications and promotion.
Tourism for Nature: The rainforest inside Victoria
Falls National Park served as an example of tourism’s ability to support the
preservation of ecosystems, though again making clear how the sector’s full
potential is not always realized.
The field trips provided the basis for the
interactive learning sessions and workshops of the following two days. The 50
participants, drawn from 20 countries and from communications, destination
management and tourism governance, were tasked with addressing three of the key
challenges facing tourism communicators today: pitching to the media, building
and curating media relations, and focusing the narrative on tourism for
development.
The workshop was informed by presentations from
experts from UNWTO as well as from across the media spectrum (Meta, Channels
TV, TraveMedia Ireland) and from top content creators. The interactive
presentations again focused on the most relevant issues, including ways to
place tourism in the mainstream media, harnessing the power of social media for
tourism for development, working with the media, and effective communications
to showcase tourism’s importance for culture, heritage and communities.
Solutions and debates
With the focus of the Field Trips as the
foundations, participants were tasked with presenting their solutions to the
three main challenges outlined. With the focus again on interactive learning,
the different backgrounds and viewpoints informed discussions around how best
to pitch tourism to the wider media, how to work with media in an ever-changing
landscape, and how to move beyond tourism as just a leisure activity. The
discussions both highlighted the shared goals of diverse destinations while
also making clear the gaps in knowledge that still need to be filled, with
UNWTO standing ready to deliver further media training.
Alongside exploring the solutions to growing
tourism as a media topic, the workshop also focused on crisis communications,
again utilizing the diverse expertise of participants and the examples of the
field trips to identify ways to be more proactive and build readiness.
Image
Credit: © UNWTO
The most interesting news
New TUI Study Reveals 75 percent of Brits Crave Home Comforts Abroad
Slippers, Tea, and Familiar Smiles Top the List.
Hyatt Opens Mumian Shaoxing Hotel, Blending Industrial Heritage and Cultural Luxury
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, in partnership with Shenzhen Yuen Kai Hotel Management Co., Ltd., has announced the grand opening of the Mumian Shaoxing Hotel, marking the debut of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt in Shaoxing, China.
Emirates Launches Summer 2025 Travel Perks for Young Passengers
Emirates has unveiled a variety of travel experiences and services aimed at enhancing the journey for children and families during the summer season.
TUI Care Foundation Supports Sustainable Tourism in Jamaica
TUI Care Foundation has announced two major initiatives to support sustainable tourism in Jamaica: the launch of a new TUI Academy for youth and the Destination Zero Waste programme in Montego Bay.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises Launches Spring Booking Campaign Including U.S. Itineraries
As part of its spring campaign titled "The Beauty of the Moment," running through July 31, 2025, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is offering a range of immersive cruise experiences across North America, the Caribbean, Alaska, Canada, the Arctic, and the Pacific.
UN Tourism Launches ‘Safe Destinations Challenge’ to Boost Tourism Resilience
Open Innovation Call Seeks Solutions for Crisis Preparedness, Safety, and Sustainability in Tourism.
Kempinski Hotels Celebrated with Top Honours at Global Hotel Alliance Awards 2025 in Brussels
Kempinski Hotels has been recognised with multiple top accolades at the 2025 Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) Awards, held at the historic Solvay Library in Brussels.
Condor Launches ‘Round Up for the Future’ to Support Sustainable Aviation Fuel
German leisure airline Condor has introduced a new initiative titled “Round up for the future”, allowing passengers to make a meaningful environmental impact with a small gesture.
Amazon Prime’s travel hit puts global spotlight on Turkish city of Mardin
Featuring historian Bettany Hughes and presenter Alex Outhwaite, the documentary series The Wanderer brings Mardin’s rich history and natural charm to viewers in 137 countries, supported by Türkiye’s tourism bodies.
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises to Visit All Inhabited Azores Islands in 2026 – No Packing, Just Exploring
Hapag-Lloyd Cruises invites guests on a rare journey through Portugal’s green Atlantic paradise: the Azores.
Ryanair announces July offer for prime members
Over €450 in savings within just four months – all for €79.
IHG to Open Holiday Inn Bengaluru Electronic City
IHG Hotels & Resorts has signed a management agreement with Thanishq Hospitality to develop a new Holiday Inn in Bengaluru’s Electronic City.
North Korea Opens Kalma Coastal Resort After Seven Years of Construction
North Korea has officially opened a large coastal resort in Kalma, located along the country’s eastern shoreline. According to state media, leader Kim Jong Un described the development as one of the year’s greatest achievements.
Mitsui Garden Hotel Sendai Reopens After Full Renovation, Blending Nature and Modern Comfort
Mitsui Fudosan Hotel Management Co., Ltd., together with Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., has announced the reopening of the Mitsui Garden Hotel Sendai on June 14, 2025, following a complete renovation designed to enhance the guest experience.
Hilton Named India’s Numberr 1 Great Place to Work for Third Year in a Row
Hilton (NYSE: HLT), Asia’s fastest-growing hospitality company, has once again secured the top spot as India’s No. 1 Company to Work For, as recognized by Great Place to Work®.
Eurowings: Bus Transfers in Mallorca, SunExpress Codeshare and Triple Credit Card Win
Eurowings now also operating buses.
TUI Acquires 20% Stake in Bentour Reisen – Bentour Takes 20% Stake in Nazar Nordic AB
Share Swap Strengthens Strategic Cooperation Between Türkiye Travel Specialists
Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi Unveils Major Expansion with Over 20 New Rides and Attractions
Yas Waterworld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi is set to make waves this summer with the grand opening of its highly anticipated expansion on July 1.
Türkiye Surpasses Italy in Tourism, Rises to 4th Place Globally
Türkiye has overtaken Italy to become the 4th most-visited country in the world, according to the latest data from the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).
Delta focused on customer care and operational recovery after ATL storms
Delta operations stabilized on Sunday with fewer than 60 mainline cancellations. No further disruption from Friday’s severe weather is expected. We sincerely thank our customers for their continued patience and understanding.
China Eastern Airlines and Suzhou Launch ‘Suzhou Pass’ Co-Branded Card for International Visitors
China Eastern Airlines has joined forces with the city of Suzhou to introduce the “Suzhou Pass” Co-Branded Card, designed specifically for international travelers booking flights to China through the airline’s official website.
