adminBusiness Correspondent
TOURISM marketing and promotional campaign, Eastern Highlands Experience, is urging regional tourist operators to upgrade facilities in 2016, in-line with the outlook of the tabled National Tourism Master Plan. EHE chairman Mr William Chatigu said some operators were already on board renovating to improve conferencing and bedding facilities targeting international tourist standards.
Mr Chatigu added that since the launch of the campaign last year, a lot of positives could be noted on the ground from the aggressive advocacy.
“We managed to push for the upgrade of the Vumba road which had become an eyesore, of which late last year the road was patched, filling up the heavily potholes.
“We have also seen an increase in tourist operators in Manicaland region joining the campaign.
“We believe that united we stand and divided we fall.
“Surely if we speak with one voice we will succeed and boost tourist arrivals in the Eastern Highlands,” said Mr Chatigu, who is the owner of Kwayedza Lodge in Vumba.
He added that the travel and tourism sector has remained one of the most resilient sectors, registering decent growth.
Mr Chatigu said EHE in conjunction with Zimbabwe Tourism Authority would hold a series of mini-exhibitions countrywide at various events like the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo to showcase what the region has to offer.
“Yesterday (Thursday) we held a mini-exhibition at Theo’s Coffee House in Harare in conjunction with ZTA.
“This will be part of our strategy to boost domestic tourism and exhibit the unique grandeur that the region has to offer,” he said.
EHE treasurer, Mr Frank Marembo of White Horse Inn in Vumba said he had already started walking the talk at his inn.
He said they had bought luxurious therapedic mattresses and were improving on their conferencing facility which used to house only 20 people.
“As EHE, we are not going back on our target to boost tourist arrival which is in line with the Government $5 billion tourism economy by 2020.
“At White Horse Inn, we are already upgrading facilities. The conference room has been expanded to house at least 60 people and in the rooms the bedding is being changed to cater for the lavish guests,” said Mr Marembo.
Other hoteliers like Leopard Rock Hotel in Vumba and Mountview Hotel in Mutare have already earmarked turnaround projects to embrace the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) tourism, while hotels like Forest Hills Resort in Vumba and Montaclair Hotel in Nyanga have already renovated to meet modern and international standards.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority forecasts that tourist arrivals are projected to increase to $2,5 million in 2016, benefiting from vigorous destination marketing and promotion activities.
Mr Chatigu added that EHE would continue making noise about the need to put up an airport terminal in Mutare which has for years been a pipe dream for tourism operators.
Mutare has two optional sites to build an airport terminal, one is the rundown Mutare aerodrome airstrip in Sakubva near Mutare Teachers’ College and the other is the Grand Reef Airport, used by the military.
He said even the country’s star attraction, Victoria Falls, has seen visits in 2015, according to statistics from the Employers’ Association of Tourism and Safari Operators, which is why they want to promote other regions with unique and new attractions to attract tourists.
Government is in the process of developing a National Tourism Master Plan that will provide direction to product development and diversification, infrastructure development, manpower development focusing especially on youth in rural areas, gender balance, community participation, preservation of nature, culture and heritage and marketing strategies including attracting investors, for the tourism sector in the country.
Online Reporter