Ms. Hannah Bamwerinde, a marketing and tourism expert engaging participants in an evening session.

As part of the ongoing ARU–Professors Without Borders (PROWIBO) 10-day training programme, this week explored how Indigenous knowledge, culture and community experiences can be developed into meaningful tourism opportunities.

ARU students and other participants continued building their understanding of tourism through sessions on community-based and regenerative tourism, led by Ms. Hannah Bamwerinde, a marketing and tourism expert.

One question that guided the conversations was: “What do we have here that people cannot experience anywhere else?”

The question encouraged participants to look closely at what already exists within their communities including their cultures, traditions, stories, landscapes and Indigenous knowledge and consider how these could be shaped into tourism experiences.

Ms Hannah engaging participants in a group discussion around tourism

Group sessions pictures from the PROWIBO engagement this week

The sessions also explored Indigenous knowledge as a tourism product, with participants sharing experiences from their communities and reflecting on the role of traditional wisdom specialists in keeping community knowledge alive.

ARU Vice Chancellor, Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe, joined participants during both sessions, adding to the conversation around Indigenous knowledge and what makes ARU and its surrounding communities unique.

ARU Vice Chancellor, Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe, joined participants during both sessions, adding to the conversation around Indigenous knowledge

The discussions also built on earlier learning around changing tourism trends and how communities can develop relevant products and attract potential partners.

Next week, participants will move from discussion to development as they begin shaping the tourism ideas into products and exploring how the internet can help take these experiences to wider audiences