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THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) has launched a tourism and wildlife heritage handbook aimed at boosting tourism in the region as well as encouraging member states to develop stronger linkages.
The 62-page document titled “One Market, Countless Destinations”, was launched recently during the 41st World Tourism Conference in Kigali, Rwanda.
According to Comesa, the document was unveiled by Comesa Business Council (CBC) chairperson Dr Amany Asfour.
“The 62-page publication titled ‘One Market, Countless Destinations’ is expected to help boost tourism to the region and raise awareness on the unique regional offerings so as to encourage member states to develop stronger linkages through public private and private-private solutions on attracting more tourists,” said Comesa. The handbook is part of the Comesa Sustainable Tourism Development Strategic Framework, which has been recognised by member states as a model to develop national tourism action plans to boost competitiveness of the sector.
The handbook captures delightful collations from the 19 Comesa member bloc of which Zimbabwe is member offering a diversity of flora and fauna, culture, species of animals and birds, historical sites and unforgettable experiences.
“This tourism handbook is a tool to market the region as a single destination that offers sights and sounds that are of quality, affordable and also informative of our cultures and histories of Africa. It is about culture, diversity, richness of our heritage, our tourist attractions, infrastructure development and investment. It covers the Indian Ocean islands and countries on the mainland. It is about our intra-culture integration,” Dr Asfour was quoted as saying before launching the handbook at the Radisson Blu Convention Centre in Kigali.
She said tourism was a growth inclusive business which affects all sectors of society.
The Comesa Business Council chair urged Comesa governments to pay close consideration to develop local tourism by coming up with affordable products that will increase tourism in the region.
The initiative is also meant to promote cross border linkages and partnerships between various stakeholders in the tourism industry in Comesa and advocate for responsible business practices towards environmental sustainability.
The handbook is part of the Comesa Sustainable Tourism Development Strategic Framework which has been recognised by Member States as a model to develop national tourism action plans to boost competitiveness of the sector.
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