adminVictoria Falls Mayor Alderman Nkosilathi Jiyane, who is chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, said it had been realised that the $300 million convention centre could not be completed in time for the general assembly in August next year.
Last year, Zimbabwe and Zambia won the bid to co-host the UNTWO general assembly.
Construction of the convention centre was expected to take at least 12 months.
In a telephone interview, Ald Jiyane said funding challenges were the major setback for the convention centre that was expected to accommodate more than 3 000 people.
“To accommodate UNWTO general assembly delegates, we are now focusing on building a semi-permanent conference centre to the tune of $30 million. The conference centre will take six months to build,” he said without ascertaining the building’s carrying capacity.
More than 3 000 delegates are expected at the world’s biggest tourism event.
He said the conference centre will have a maximum life span of 25 years.
Ald Jiyane said although the conference centre was being built, construction of the convention centre would go ahead but will not be completed before the UNWTO general assembly.
He said the construction of the conference centre would soon begin adding that land for that purpose had been secured.
“The construction site has already been serviced and a South African property developer to build the conference centre is expected to start work soon,” he said.
The developer on the project will use their own funding while Government will pay in instalment terms.
In February, Government announced that it had secured more than $200 million for projects aimed at sprucing up Victoria Falls ahead of the world tourism event.
Some of the projects to spruce up the resort town are the upgrading of road infrastructure in the town and rehabilitation of the Victoria Falls International Airport.
Online Reporter