Dr Oliver Chikuta

Dr Oliver Chikuta is the current Dean of the Faculty of Hospitality and Sustainable Tourism at Botho University, Gaborone, Botswana. Before joining Botho University, he was the Executive Dean of the School of Hospitality and Tourism at the Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe, former Chairperson of the Tourism and Hospitality Management Department at the Midlands State University and the Founding President of the Tourism Educators and Researchers Association of Zimbabwe (TERAZ). He holds a PhD in Tourism Management from the North-West University (Potchefstroom, SA). His PhD thesis titled; ‘The development of a Universal Accessibility Framework for South Africa and Zimbabwe’ won the Outstanding PhD Dissertation Award at the 7th World Conference on Graduate Research in Tourism, Hospitality and Leisure (Istanbul, Turkey, June 2014). The focus of his study was to ensure that tourism is accessible to all, including people with disabilities.

Dr Chikuta also holds a Master of Commerce degree in Marketing Strategy and a Bachelor of Commerce (Honors) degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management (MSU). He also has certificates in Tour Guiding Services, Elementary Fares and Ticketing, E-Commerce, Food Safety Management and Introduction to Accessibility and Inclusive Design. Dr Chikuta is also an active  Hospitality Customer Service Excellence Coach. His research interests are Universal Accessibility in Tourism, Nature-Based Tourism, Sustainable and Heritage Tourism, Customer Service Excellence, Tourism marketing. He has published extensively in the above areas and has presented at regional and international conferences. Dr Chikuta has also carried out some consultancy work in the tourism industry. His consultancy work is the National Human Capital Audit for the Hospitality and Tourism industry in Zimbabwe (2012-2014), where Dr Chikuta took a leading role as a Consultant. He is currently coordinating a 130000 Euro project on developing a Technologically Integrated Sustainable Tourism Education Module with a German partner at DHBW University. He has vast industry experience, having sat on the Board of Trustees for the CUT Hotel Group for four years.