Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has called on the government to introduce alternative and effective modes of transport to the struggling national airline Air Zimbabwe that has been grounded for more than a month.
Speaking at the launch of the World Tourism Month last week in Murehwa, ZTA board chairperson Mara Hativagoni, said efficient modes of transport are necessary to promote tourism in the country.
“Currently the major problem is transport. We are taking two days to drive to Victoria Falls, if possible the government should make available a reliable train for daily transportation to and from Victoria Falls,” said Hativagoni.
She said Air Zimbabwe was underperforming thereby limiting the country’s visibility as accessibility and connectivity was of concern to tourists.
“We are hoping that government will make movement possible to encourage more travelling to promote tourism in the country,” said Hativagoni
“As ZTA and the Ministry of Environment and Tourism we are reaching out to communities encouraging local tourism in the country. Our aim is to promote the local brand ‘Zimbabwe a World of Wonders’. We have many tourist attractions and many valuable places and yet some are not known by many tourists.
“It’s very important if we identify these places to develop and restructure them to create employment for our communities to benefit,” said Hativagoni.
Murehwa district administrator Maxwell Mabhuro said cultural tourism was growing internationally and reaching average annual growth rate of 15% almost twice the figure of overall growth rate for the tourism industry.
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“Tourism is one of the largest and dynamically developing sectors of external economic activities. Its growth and development rates provide considerable volumes of foreign currency inflows and infrastructural development,” said Mabhuro
Mabhuro said the local industry was recovering adding the international community was starting to re-engage and it was incumbent upon all concerned stakeholders to participate in the revival and promotion of community-based projects.
