RETOSA New Online Training At ZATEX 2016

RETOSA, the Regional Tourism Organization of Southern Africa, part of SADC, short for the Southern African Development Community, has been highly visible at the ongoing Zambia Travel Expo in Lusaka this week.

The presence of RETOSA, besides showing solidarity and support to a member country, was however also aimed at promoting their new online learning programme, which is now available for travel agents, staff of tour and safari operators and more to attain higher levels of competence.

Those completing the various modules, there are 16 of them, are then certified as a Southern Africa Travel Expert by RETOSA.
Apart from a mandatory introductory module on the wider region - RETOSA has 15 member countries - are then 15 country modules on offer.

Graduates of the online training can aim for the Bronze Level which includes 5 countries and the regional module, while the Silver Level requires completion of 10 country modules and the regional module.

Top tier graduates then get awarded the Gold Level for which they must complete the regional module and all 15 country modules, making them undisputed champions of knowledge about the RETOSA region.

Notably are the courses free of charge and students can determine their own pace and time frame in which they are getting ready for their exams.

RETOSA member countries, besides Zambia, are Angola, Botswana, Congo DR, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Also on the RETOSA stand was impromptu visitor Jeremiah L. E. Manussa, the Director of Marketing of the Mozambique Tourism Authority who was particularly keen to meet hosted buyers who had come to ZATEX 2016 to have them consider add on segments in Mozambique, where some of the continent's finest beaches and most charming resorts await visitors.

ZAMBIA: Zambia Ready For ZATEX, Zambia Travel Expo

The Chief Executive of Zambia Tourism, Mr. Felix Siame Chaila, has confirmed that the second edition of the Zambia Travel Expo, in short ZATEX, will take place later this month between the 27th and 29th of June.
He told this correspondent on the sidelines of the ongoing Sanganai 2016 World Travel Fair in Bulawayo / Zimbabwe, that all signals are now showing green and all tourism roads in Zambia will lead to the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka.

Felix also confirmed that several tourism boards from the Southern African region and from Eastern Africa will be attending the show together with a large number of private sector exhibitors, all aimed to showcase the many attractions Zambia holds, starting with the Victoria Falls the country shares with neighbours Zimbabwe.

Also present, according to Felix, will be the major airlines connecting Zambia out of Lusaka with the rest of the region and beyond, hotel groups, tour and safari operators, service providers and of course the local, regional and international media.
As was the case this week from Zimbabwe expect destination reports and live updates from ZATEX2016 throughout the event.