adminAshley Mujoma
The Covid-19 pandemic era created a historic opportunity to re-think tourism and ‘build forward better’ based on lessons learnt, Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, said.
Speaking at the BlT International Tourism Exchange in Milan, Italy, on Sunday, she said the pandemic created an opportunity for the world to re-think tourism and to find solutions to overcome new challenges in the industry.
“One of the positive sentiments for 2022 was when the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) declared the World Tourism Day theme as ‘Rethinking Tourism’.
“This declaration meant to put people and the planet first and bringing everyone from Governments, private sector and local communities together around a shared vision for a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient sector.
“For Zimbabwe, a number of sustainable tourism development initiatives have been introduced to support the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), through the national Clean-Up Campaign as a means to solving waste management challenges,” she said.
She stated that Zimbabwe had taken interest in developing community-based tourism.
“The Government of Zimbabwe has also taken a keen interest to develop Community-Based Tourism (CBTE) Projects as a vehicle to alleviate poverty in rural and marginalised communities, in line with SDG 1 (no to poverty).
“It has packaged communities through their history, tradition, daily lives, arts and craft, flora and fauna, as unique selling points in communities and CBTEs.
“CBTEs present Government with opportunities to enhance national tourism competitiveness, alleviation of poverty, environmental conservation and the preservation of local culture and heritage.”
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter