ZIMBABWE Council for Tourism (ZCT) says its members are working hard to show off the best of Zimbabwe during the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly meeting set for August 2013.
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President of the apex body Glenn Stutchbury said their members were gearing to showcase the country to the world’s travel industry leaders, policymakers and media.
ZCT brings together seven different associations within the tourism sector.
“There’s no doubt about the increasing levels of confidence in Zimbabwe as a destination as shown by the return of major international carriers and desire of even more to start operating in the country,” said Stucthbury in a market update yesterday.
Emirates and Dutch KLM are among some of the international airlines that have resumed flights to Harare.
Hotels in the World Heritage Site resort of Victoria Falls have blocked rooms for the anticipated 800 delegates who will be co-hosted with the Zambian town of Livingstone, across the Zambezi River.
The hotels have embarked on varying levels of refurbishment, with Africa Albida Tourism opening its impressive 20-room all-suite, butler-service Safari Club.
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Rainbow Tourism Group’s A’Zambezi River Lodge underwent extensive upgrading and most recently well-known regional hospitality management firm Cresta Hospitality made its debut in Victoria Falls to run the Cresta Sprayview.
Activity operators in Victoria Falls, led by Shearwater and Wild Horizons, among others, continue to offer a wide range of thrilling leisure options.
“The general assembly offers an opportunity for the business players in the (Victoria) Falls to up their game, and challenges us to improve what we believe is already an outstanding destination,” Stutchbury said.
“As industry we are extremely confident that we are well placed to deliver on accommodation, transport and activities to the visitors.”
At the UNWTO last site inspection visit at the end of August 2012, the inspection team gave the private sector’s efforts a thumbs-up.
He said ZCT had accorded the UNWTO “priority status” and had put in place a team led by vice-president (hospitality) Francis Ngwenya and hotelier Derrick Kung and tour operator Barbara Murasiranwa to work closely with the government as the local organising committee.
“Industry has responded to the call for product improvement in the sector by the Minister of Tourism and hospitality,” Stutchbury said.
“Viability of development and product improvement projects rely on the use of the SI124/2011 and the only factor preventing use of this instrument to full benefit is the interpretation of the SI by the Ministry of Finance.
“Industry is working closely with the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to get clarity on this critical issue.”
The government last year promulgated statutory instruments — SI 124/2011 with a view of giving the tourism industry the much-needed import duty relief in order to refurbish and equip its products to meet the anticipated growth and standards.
Stutchbury noted that the Zambian government had introduced SI69 which allows for duty free imports of all non-food goods for hotels, restaurants and cafés, inclusive of furniture, linen and glassware. He said Zambia was taking the UNWTO general assembly and the resurgence of tourism seriously.
The ZCT president said he was pleased with teaming up with the Tourism ministry and the spirit of “all hands on deck” to ensure delivery of the most memorable, “uniquely African” general assembly to date.
