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Ministry scouts for UNWTO organiser

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THE Tourism and Hospitality Industry ministry has floated a tender to hire services of a professional conference organiser ahead of the UNWTO conference slated for next August.

THE Tourism and Hospitality Industry ministry has floated a tender to hire services of a professional conference organiser ahead of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) conference slated for next August.

Business Reporter

According to the Government Gazette published last Friday, the closing date for submissions is January 15.

Zimbabwe and Zambia will co-host the tourism showcase as the country continues to make frantic efforts to improve its battered image.

Already, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) could soon sign an agreement with Telecel Zimbabwe, which will result in the latter becoming the official media partner for the UNWTO General Assembly.

Under the recently signed Sanganai/Hlanganani agreement, Telecel is expected to offer direct financial sponsorship of $32 000 as well as other non-financial sponsorships, including the use of a bulk short message service platform.

ZTA is also mulling appointing South African Airways as the official airline for the assembly, as the national carrier Air Zimbabwe has technically collapsed.

As the countdown to the UNWTO conference continues, government will be racing against time before the organisation’s international inspectors jet into the country in January to assess progress, three months after conducting a similar tour.

Earlier on, Vice-President Joice Mujuru, who chairs a Cabinet committee responsible for organising the global event, expressed satisfaction with the overall programme after touring facilities in the resort town.

In August, Parliament approved a loan agreement with the Chinese government, which would result in the mortgaging of the country’s natural resources and existing infrastructure to the Asian country in order to fund the event.

It is also understood that government pledged the Harare and Victoria Falls international airports as security for a $381,2 million loan to upgrade infrastructure ahead of the UNWTO General Assembly.

Of the loan, $150 million would be used for upgrading and expanding Victoria Falls Airport in preparation for the premier tourism meeting, $141,3 million is for upgrading and repairing Harare City Council’s decaying water and sewer reticulation system, while $89,9 million is earmarked for medical equipment and supplies for public hospitals.