ZIMBABWE and Zambia are more than ready to host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly meeting in August, notwithstanding the challenge in getting ordinary citizens to appreciate the event, a Zambian government official has said.
BY NDAMU SANDU IN BERLIN, GERMANY
But the situation on the ground in Zimbabwe shows that the country might not be able to put everything in place before the meeting, to be held in Victoria Falls and Livingstone from August 24 to 29 this year.
Zambian minister of Tourism and Arts, Sylvia Masebo, told journalists here on Thursday that the two countries are more than ready to host the meeting even if it were to be held tomorrow.
“We are ready but in every preparation, we have some challenges, especially in trying to get our people [to] appreciate the importance of this conference and use it as a mechanism, not just to make money, but as a springboard to showcase our country, people, tradition and culture beyond the UNWTO,” Masebo said.
Masebo’s remarks come at a time Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has been knocking on Treasury’s door for the release of US$6 million necessary for preparations.
Last month, Tourism minister Walter Mzembi approached the Prime Minister’s office complaining about Treasury’s delay in releasing the money necessary to oil the preparations.
Masebo said the meeting could either make or break the two countries. She said at the last inspection, UNWTO said the two countries were on course to host the event that has been equated to tourism’s World Cup.
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Masebo said both Zimbabwe and Zambia “are taking it as a unique opportunity to develop our destinations”.
“With it, we have to do certain things in terms of infrastructure improvements and getting the ordinary citizens to participate in the tourism industry,” Masebo said.
“It’s an opportunity to inte-grate our people and culture”. The successful hosting of the UNWTO meeting is envisaged to help the two countries lure tourists.
However, the two nations have to grapple with accessibility challenges, as their national flag carriers are either grounded or in the intensive care unit. The co-hosts are still to appoint an official carrier for the meeting.
The UNTWO has been helping Zimbabwe and Zambia to fine-tune preparations. In addition, the UNWTO has assisted Zimbabwe in drafting a Tourism Master Plan (TMP) that is expected to double tourist arrivals and increase the sector’s economic contribution by 2015.
The TMP is expected to adopt a fast-track strategy that would see arrivals grow to five million in 2015 from the current 2,2 million. During this period, the sector should subsequently create 150 000 new jobs and reach 450 000 jobs compared to the current 300 000.
