CHASING THE US$5B TOURISM ECONOMY

Ashley Mujoma

ZIMBABWE is participating at the three-day United Nations World Tourism Organisation Commission for Africa which got underway in Mauritius yesterday.

The gathering is being held under the theme ‘Rethinking Tourism for Africa: Promoting Investment and Partnerships, Addressing Global Challenges’.

The country is seeking to recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the tourism sector is regarded as strategic for economic development.

Zimbabwe aims to achieve a US$5 billion tourism economy by 2025, offering unique, inclusive and sustainable experiences.

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Raphael Tayerera Faranisi, is leading the Zimbabwe delegation.

Acting deputy director of communications and advocacy in the Ministry, Norah Takaindisa, said the UNWTO is important since it helps to ensure that tourism is safe, accessible and a growing economic resource for everyone.

“As Zimbabwe’s tourism is on a path to recovery post Covid-19, the platform allows for engagements and tapping into the successes of competitive African destinations,” she said.

“The Zimbabwe tourism outlook is driven by its scenic, conducive and attractive environmental landscapes, national parks and wildlife, sparkling and magnificent water bodies, as well as its rich history and cultural diversity.”