This year, students of Dr Sasi Gangiah, a lecturer in the Department of Hospitality and Tourism, can look forward to lectures enriched with global insights drawn from her recent experiences representing the Durban University of Technology (DUT) on international platforms. Dr Gangiah’s most recent international endeavour was her participation at the ATLAS SIG Business Tourism Conference on Business Tourism, Sustainability, Health and Wellness at the European University of Valencia, in Spain where she was the only presenter from the African continent.
The annual conference is a leading platform for sharing best practices and ideas in business tourism research and education. Dr Gangiah presented her paper, “Advancing Flavours of Africa at Global Events and its Influence on Entrepreneurship”, which she says was well received.
“The Event Management students from the European University of Valencia were eager to learn what Africa can offer. They were also curious about the cuisines across the African continent and the impact of colonisation. While discussing, I received a comment that Moroccan food was more popular in Israel,” she said.
The delegates also had an opportunity to tour some of the country’s highly regarded attractions, such as the City of Arts and Sciences (CAC) in Valencia. This scientific and cultural leisure complex, covering around two kilometres of the former riverbed of the River Turia, is the most important modern tourist destination in the City of Valencia and one of the 12 Treasures of Spain.
Dr Sasi Gangiah enjoying her stay in Spain.
“CAC is the most amazing modern architecture. There are several beautiful churches with Baroque-style architecture. Most of the city streets in Valencia are lined with orange trees. It is clean and all public buses are electric with bicycle lanes on all the roads. We walked safely on the streets at night without fear of ambush,” shared Dr Gangiah.
She also had the opportunity to attend a Flamenco dance show in Barcelona, home to nine UNESCO World Heritage landmarks.
“I was fortunate to see La Sagrada Familia, one of Barcelona’s most famous landmarks. It is an unexpected sight in its urban setting, with its bold flying buttresses and twisted towers looming over the city. Dr R Maniram had advised me not to miss this iconic structure after she attended a conference in Barcelona (12th to 16thNovember, IAFOR Barcelona 2024),” she recalled.
The trip left Dr Gangiah who also serves as DUT’s annual African Food Festival coordinator and Team Leader for the DUT Catering Management Programme feeling inspired, “The presentations included MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) a billion-dollar industry. This tourism industry involves planning and executing large-scale events for business and professional purposes. This has inspired me to the possibility of a Conferencing and Events course at DUT,” she said.
Dr Gangiah who also attended the BRICS Research Institute (RI) Conference in China in late September 2024, said potential partnerships or collaborations with the European University of Valencia, a private university are possible as it boasts five campuses.
Adding to her highlights, Dr Gangiah was delighted to chair the conference’s last session, which focused on hospitality-related themes.
Pictured: Dr Sasi Gangiah during her visit in Spain.
Zandile Mahlobo
