MASVINGO — Strikes, crippling debts and low customer confidence cost the national airline, Air Zimbabwe an award at the national tourism awards held on Tuesday night.
The awards, hosted by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) in recognition of outstanding players in the tourism and hospitality industry, were announced on the sidelines of the national commemorations of the World Tourism Day at a local hotel.
Ethiopian Airways scooped the best prize in the airline category while South African Airways and Kenyan Airways came second and third, respectively.
The limping national carrier used to be the jewel of Southern Africa’s aviation industry before its fortunes started to plummet over the last few years.
Speaking during the event, Masvingo governor Titus Maluleke said the country’s tourism sector continued to suffer from lack of investment in infrastructure development in the road network, information communication technology and financial resources to increase promotion activities in both traditional and emerging markets.
Maluleke said tourism enabler departments should improve their efforts to ensure the sector does not become worthless as a destination.
“Indeed, the tourism brand will help in positioning and improving the image of the country which suffered years of attack and negative publicity,” said Maluleke.
ZTA yesterday granted tourism awards in 20 categories that has promoted the tourism sector directly and indirectly in Zimbabwe.
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ZTA chief executive officer Karikoga Kaseke said the awards were a way of acknowledging efforts and the good work that was being done in promoting tourism in the country.
“We want to provide a platform for every Zimbabwean to participate in making Zimbabwe a world of wonders,” said Kaseke.
The national tourism awards were accorded in 20 categories,
In other categories Monomotapa Crown Plaza won the best city hotel award, Pandari Lodge won the best city lodge, A’ Zambezi River Lodge Victoria Falls won the best resort hotel, Stanley and Livingstone — Victoria Falls won the best resort lodge, O’ Hagens Sam Levy’s Village won the best non-hotel restaurant, Makuwa Kuwa — Victoria Falls won the best hotel-based restaurant, Garwe restaurant — Harare won the best ethnic restaurant,
Genesis Travel won the best travel agent, Kanondo Safaris — Victoria Falls won the best tour operator, Midlands State University won the best training institute, Elephant Hills Hotel won the best conferencing facilities, Fungai Moses Makoni won the private sector manager and tourism entrepreneur of the year awards.
