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SARI at the UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa: Championing Africa Through Culture and Cuisine
- sixthafricanregion
- Jun 21
- 2 min read
The future of African tourism is increasingly being shaped by innovation, sustainability, and the power of local communities. It was therefore an honour for the founder and CEO of the Sixth African Region Initiatives (SARI) to participate in the Second UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa held in Arusha, Tanzania.
The forum brought together chefs, government representatives, tourism leaders, development partners, entrepreneurs, and destination management professionals from across the continent to explore how gastronomy tourism can become a catalyst for economic growth, cultural preservation, and community empowerment.
As a delegate representing SARI, Founder and Executive Director Zainab A. Muntari joined conversations focused on promoting African culinary heritage as an essential component of sustainable tourism development. The event provided an important platform to exchange ideas on how local food systems, indigenous knowledge, and community enterprises can create authentic visitor experiences while generating income for women and youth.
Delegates were officially welcomed by the Government of Tanzania and UN Tourism representatives, highlighting Tanzania's commitment to positioning gastronomy as a strategic pillar of tourism development.
For SARI, participation in the forum reinforced the organization's vision of creating inclusive tourism ecosystems that empower young entrepreneurs and SMEs across Africa. Discussions around value chain development, local sourcing, innovation, and cross-border collaboration directly align with SARI's mission of supporting African businesses through entrepreneurship, research, and strategic partnerships.
The forum also created opportunities to establish new relationships with tourism stakeholders, international organizations, and development partners who share a commitment to promoting Africa's diverse cultural identity through tourism.
As SARI continues to expand its continental footprint, insights gained from Arusha will inform future programmes that connect youth entrepreneurship, gastronomy, creative industries, and sustainable tourism development.
Africa's greatest tourism asset is its people, culture, and stories, and gastronomy is one of the most powerful ways to tell them.
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