Tourism practitioners across the East African Community (EAC) region now have the opportunity to enhance their skills and expertise through the newly launched EAC Online Tourism Capacity Development Programme. Developed in collaboration with the European Union and the German Development Cooperation Agency, GIZ, these courses aim to elevate professional standards and skill sets within the regional tourism industry.
The official launch of the programme took place during a virtual session led by Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, the EAC Deputy Secretary General for Infrastructure, Productive, Social, and Political Sectors. Attended by various stakeholders from the public and private sectors, including tourism boards, tour operators, and SMEs, the event marked a significant step towards boosting capacity in the tourism sector.
Participants in the programme will benefit from high-quality training materials accessible completely free of charge. The courses offer a dynamic learning experience, incorporating self-paced modules, live webinars, expert talks, and moderated forums. This accessibility ensures that learners can engage with the content at their convenience while receiving comprehensive insights into key topics essential to the tourism industry.
Covering a range of subjects vital to the sector, each course within the programme spans four months, allowing ample time for in-depth exploration and understanding. Upon successful completion, participants will receive a downloadable EAC certificate, digitally signed by the EAC leadership, validating their newly acquired skills.
Moreover, to cater to a diverse audience, the courses are available in both English and French language versions. The course schedule includes topics such as Tourism Marketing, Sustainable Tourism and Hospitality Management, Tour Guiding, and Implementation of Sustainable Tourism Practices.
During the session, Deputy Secretary General Andrea Ariik Malueth reiterated the EAC’s commitment to enhancing skills across the tourism sector, particularly targeting MSMEs, youth, women, and local communities. She emphasized that the programme is part of the broader LIFTED initiative, co-funded by the European Union and Germany Cooperation, aimed at supporting the resumption of tourism services post-COVID-19.
Martino Vinci, representing the EU delegation to Tanzania, commended the EAC for championing the initiative and reaffirmed Team Europe’s commitment to supporting regional tourism efforts. Marius Weist, the GIZ Tourism Component Lead, expressed excitement about the partnership with the EAC and emphasized the importance of capacity development in the tourism sector.
