Editor,

RE: "Tourism stakeholders move to curb revenue leakages” (The New Times, August 21).

This is the right message and indeed the right thing to do. Our major challenge lies in the fact that local suppliers are not well informed (some basic training is required) on how the hotel/restaurant business works. They are not given the proper orientation that enables them to make the right business decisions regarding timeliness, quality control, communication skills, and preparation.

Restaurants/hotels are also guilty of not understanding that a supplier does not need to be your sister-in-law or your cousin who shows up at 11a.m or 12a.m when delivery should be by 6a.m!

Nshuti

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Yes, indeed, there is an urgent need to spot and train local potential suppliers to hotels and restaurants in every field of product and service needed in the sector. Just the same way local managers have and are still being identified and trained.

And in case of privileging local supplies, perhaps then it is these managers training that is lacking in this respect? How much of local content, related to each of the several hospitality services offered, is emphasised in their current training curriculum?

Francois-Xavier Nziyonsenga