The Africa Youth In Tourism(AYIT) conference ran under the theme, ‘The Role Of Youth In Sustainable Tourism Development’. The three day conference kicked off from Wednesday the 6th of September through to Saturday the 9th of September 2017 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds (ZITF) in Bulawayo with the main objective to facilitate the mainstreaming of tourism into the education system across Africa.
At least 1000 delegates from across African countries like Sudan, Ghana, Ethiopia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and abroad were in attendance. The conference provided a continental exposure to the youth for the expression and fulfillment of their talents, aspirations, career opportunities in the tourism industry through discussions on environment and climate change, natural resource preservation, utilisation and protection for the achievements of sustainable development considering how flora and fauna are incentives to tourism. Other issues that lie along the lines of tourism like HIV/AIDS were also discussed upon with involvement of the youth in attendance. The conference was graced by the presence of the Junior Parliament of Zimbabwe’s President and Vice President as well as other Honourable Ministers.
The engaging event allowed delegates to get an understanding of all aspects of the nurturing of tourism entrepreneurship business in Africa and delegates got the chance to tour Khami Ruins, the Matopos Mountains as well as many other scenery in the Matebeleland region
“The success of the tourism industry depends upon the involvement and active participation of young people in its sustainable development. The youth should institute mechanisms for adequate monitoring and evaluation to take into account the dynamics of the changing environment,” said one of the Ministers in attendance.
