Sierra Leone has reaffirmed its readiness to host the third edition of the UN Tourism Africa Gastronomy Forum, using the 69th Meeting of the UN Tourism Commission for Africa (CAF) in Seychelles as a strategic platform to consolidate partnerships, align policy priorities and demonstrate preparedness for the continental event.
Led by the Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Mrs Nabeela Farida Tunis Sierra Leone’s delegation joined tourism ministers, senior government officials, development partners and private sector leaders from across Africa to deliberate on the future of tourism development on the continent. The forum is scheduled to take place from 2 to 4 December, 2026.
The UN Tourism Africa Gastronomy Forum has quickly emerged as a flagship thematic platform within Africa’s tourism calendar. The inaugural forum was hosted in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe in 2024, followed by the second edition in Arusha, Tanzania in 2025. Sierra Leone is now preparing to host the third edition, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of gastronomy tourism in Africa.
Importantly, the upcoming forum will be the first to be held since the appointment of Shaikha Al Nuwais as Secretary-General of UN Tourism, adding further strategic weight and institutional significance to the event.
Gastronomy, Human Capital and Tourism’s Future
Discussions at CAF in Seychelles focused heavily on human capital development, sustainability, innovation and policy coherence — core pillars that align closely with Sierra Leone’s vision for the gastronomy forum.
According to Minister Tunis, the Seychelles meeting provided a critical opportunity to deepen engagement with UN Tourism officials and African counterparts on how gastronomy can be leveraged as a driver of skills development, job creation, cultural preservation and inclusive growth.
“Gastronomy sits at the intersection of culture, tourism, agriculture and the creative economy,” she noted. “Our objective is to ensure that the forum goes beyond celebration of cuisine to focus on people — chefs, farmers, entrepreneurs, young creatives and communities — who are central to tourism’s future in Africa.”
Sierra Leone’s preparations for the forum are expected to emphasise culinary education and training, women and youth participation, local value chain development, and the integration of food culture into destination branding and tourism storytelling.
Building on Continental Momentum
By hosting the third edition, Sierra Leone aims to build on the momentum established in Victoria Falls and Arusha, while introducing new perspectives rooted in West Africa’s culinary heritage and community-based tourism experiences.
At CAF, the Sierra Leone delegation held a series of engagements to outline its readiness across logistics, venues, stakeholder coordination and programme development, while drawing lessons from previous host countries.
The broader CAF deliberations also examined Africa’s tourism resilience in the face of global shocks, climate change, skills gaps and evolving traveller preferences — reinforcing the relevance of specialised platforms such as the gastronomy forum in diversifying Africa’s tourism offer.
Appreciation to Hosts and Partners
Minister Tunis expressed appreciation to Seychelles for hosting the CAF meeting, praising its organisation and hospitality, as well as the contributions of fellow African ministers whose insights enriched the discussions.
She also commended UN Tourism for its leadership in advancing thematic tourism development across Africa, noting that the Africa Gastronomy Forum has become an important vehicle for collaboration, knowledge exchange and continental positioning.
As Sierra Leone advances preparations to host the third Africa Gastronomy Forum, outcomes from the Seychelles CAF meeting are expected to shape final programming and partnerships — ensuring the event delivers lasting impact for African tourism stakeholders and host communities alike.
