Govt to increase tourism investment

GOVERNMENT will increase its investment in domestic tourism and related human capital development so as to increase earnings from the sector, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr Thokozile Chitepo, has said.

Speaking in Victoria Falls recently, Dr Chitepo called upon tourism players to work hard towards developing the sector, which she said can do better than this year’s almost $800 million receipts and about 2.5 million annual arrivals.

The tourism sector contributes 12 percent to the Gross Domestic Product and is one of key economic drivers in the country.

“The vision is far bigger and we could be talking billions if we do well, so let’s all play a part in developing tourism,” she said.

“The ministry of tourism is going to prioritise key projects that will maximise opportunities for the people of Zimbabwe to participate in tourism. We expect that players continue with job creation as part of Zim-Asset as we want ordinary Zimbabweans to participate in all sectors.

“We see the biggest investment coming from ordinary people and this is a priority for us to invest in people and business that will grow the tourism economy.”

Dr Chitepo said the country cannot succeed in international tourism without a strong domestic base.

“We are going to invest in domestic tourism because this is going to be the basis and sustenance of the tourism economy,” said the Permanent Secretary.

She said there would be a deliberate drive to ensure locals, including schoolchildren and the informal sector or families, were encouraged to tour the country’s resorts. Victoria Falls will this week host the carnival, which attracts thousands of foreign and local visitors and it becomes one of the marketing platforms for Zimbabwe’s tourism. Dr Chitepo said Government would also invest in digital marketing so prospective visitors can access the country’s activities online.

A tourism executive who is also Zimbabwe Council for Tourism representative for Matabeleland North Province, Mrs Barbara Murasiranwa, said the future of the sector looks bright. She said 2017 was a good year although players could not beat the 1999 target when the sector was at its peak.

“It has been one of the best years in terms of tourism even though we haven’t hit the 1999 target when the cake was big and with few people sharing it. Right now we have many players but we want to thank Government for its efforts especially looking at the number of airlines that are now landing at Victoria Falls International Airport. Sometimes we get 500 tourists a day, which is amazing,” said Mrs Murasiranwa.

She said hotels were already fully booked while operators expect a bumper harvest on activities because of the carnival. Victoria Falls deputy Mayor Clr Norris Nyathi said the town was poised for growth due to growth of SMEs and the tourism sector. — @ncubeleon