By Ncaba Ntshakala
The former Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Moses Vilakati, has emphasized that the growth of the hospitality industry in any country is directly correlated to the development of agricultural value chains.
Vilakati, who is currently the candidate for the African Union Commission (AUC) for Agriculture, Blue Economy, and Rural Development, made these remarks during a session on “Nourishing the Tourism,
Hospitality, and Health Industries in Africa and Procuring Jobs for the African Youth” at the Africa Food Systems Forum 2024 annual summit.
Vilakati highlighted that all hotels require food to feed their guests, where he expressed the need for the development of value chains for essential crops within a country.
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He pointed out that good food is one of the key metrics used to grade hotels, making the quality of food produced domestically pivotal in elevating the hospitality industry to new heights.
He further emphasized that by focusing on the development of agricultural value chains, not only can the hospitality industry be nourished, but it can also create significant job opportunities for the youth in Africa.
The symbiotic relationship between agriculture and hospitality, according to Vilakati, is crucial for the sustainable growth of both sectors, thereby driving economic development across the continent.
The Africa Food Systems Forum annual summit is a timely opportunity to convene diverse stakeholders, including world leaders, investors, academia, farmers’ organizations, and
the private sector, to spotlight innovations, technologies, best practices, business models, policy delivery mechanisms, and investments to accelerate food systems transformation in Africa and beyond, with youth and women at the helm.
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According to African Food Systems Forum, this year’s theme highlights the urgent need to unleash and leverage the creative potential of the continent’s youth and women to accelerate economic development.
The Forums stressed that these efforts, complemented by innovations and digital technologies, will expedite the shift towards more sustainable, equitable, inclusive, and climate-resilient food systems.
To achieve this transformation on a continental scale, the AFS Forum 2024 theme calls for prioritizing of three essential actions: innovate, accelerate, and scale up.
