The VA TourismPodcast Kojo Bentum-Williams

In today’s episode, the CEO of Millvest Investments and one of the conveners of the Africa Tourism Leadership Forum, Miller Matola previews this year’s event which is a few days away. He says the strategic partnership with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement will be one of the highlights of this year’s ATLF. 

Today’s episode is a continuation of our special coverage of Mozambique’s burgeoning tourism sector. My guest is Noor Momade, CEO of COTOUR and President of the Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators of Mozambique. In this conversation, Noor unpacks the recovery of the country’s tourism industry and the role his association is playing to improve the sector. He wants government to expedite action in liberalizing the air transport to improve domestic connectivity.
 

Ahead of the 6th Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards slated for the 4-6 October in Gaborone, Botswana, I caught up with Dan Dsouza, a speaker and a  global leader in corporate innovation, with expertise in fostering corporate venturing and start-up creation. He tells me he wants to see influential, and people in power who can influence and create places for safe practice to change the industry.
 

Today’s episode is a special issue of our coverage of Mozambique’s burgeoning tourism sector. My guest Lwana Lopes, the General Manager of Sentidos Beach Retreat one of the leading resorts in Mozambique, talks about the opportunities and challenges with tourism in the country. Lwana tells me they look at offering an experience and not just sleeping on a bed. She concludes with the hotel’s plans for the MICE and incentive market as it plans to roll out new product offerings.

In today’s episode, Mozambique’s Minister of Culture and Tourism Eldervina Materula takes a deep dive into the state of the country’s tourism sector following the ringing changes of its visa policy and the rollout of the evisa program. The country recently held the 11th National Cultural Festival and she believes Mozambique’s cultural heritage can propel its tourism renaissance.
 

My guest today is Mwanase Ahmed, the CEO & Co-owner of Distant Relatives Ecolodge and Backpackers, a unique eco-lodge in Kilifi, Kenya. The lodge has in the last ten years built a coalition of environmentally conscious travellers and made the local community the pillar of its project. Mwanase talks about her passion for the work and how destinations could tap into their model to develop robust and sustained domestic tourism.
Mwanase Ahmed, a global citizen with roots on Lamu Island, has journeyed through living in the United States, France, Central America, and Senegal before returning to her homeland of Kenya. As the visionary CEO and Co-owner of Distant Relatives Ecolodge and Backpackers, she combines her rich cultural experiences with a deep passion for sustainable tourism, integrating social and environmental responsibility. With a background in Sociology, International Studies & Political Economy, Mwanase brings a unique perspective to her leadership role, fostering a harmonious blend of ecological awareness, community empowerment, and unity, and enriching travel experiences through positive social & environmental activities.