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Zimbabwe and Zambia have received accolades from across the globe for successfully co-hosting the just ended United Nations World Tourism Organisation general assembly much to the chagrin of the countries’ detractors. The general assembly which was attended by 121 member states out of the 154 members, had a record number of states and countries attending since UNWTO’s inception in 1975.
Zimbabwe’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Engineer Walter Mzembi said the brand Zimbabwe was the biggest winner of co-hosting the general assembly as global perception about the country will change. He said the hosting of the general assembly would bring intangible benefits to the country which could not be measured in monetary terms.
Minister Mzembi said the week-long event provided an opportunity to correct the wrong image of Zimbabwe portrayed by some western media such as CNN and BBC which were targeting President Mugabe. He said hosting of the general assembly was never about making money. “What is value is the ability to change the mindset of the international community about our politics, our governance, about brand Zimbabwe and more importantly about our President whom they have so unfairly packaged,” said Minister Mzembi.
The doomsayers had predicted a complete failure of the two countries to co-host the event with some even suggesting a change of venue given that Zimbabwe was just emerging from the historic harmonised elections. The two countries’ detractors were so desperate to spoil the co-hosting of the general assembly that some even went to the extent of circulating a false story on the internet claiming that a bomb had been found planted at the venue of the general assembly in Zimbabwe in order to scare delegates from attending the meeting.
Washington had even issued a travel warning to its citizens not to visit Victoria Falls claiming it was dangerous. The delegates to the general assembly proved for themselves that they have all along been fed with falsehoods by the western media that is bent on tarnishing Zimbabwe’s image. Zimbabwe and Zambia have every reason to celebrate the successful co-hosting of the general assembly at a time when economies the world over are subdued.
Zimbabwe had to prepare for the general assembly which required a lot of resources at the same time it was preparing for an equally important national event, the harmonised elections, hence the prophets of doom had predicted a total failure. It is our fervent hope that the delegates who now have first hand information regarding the country will be its ambassadors when they return to their respective countries. We believe those in the tourism industry seized the opportunity to market their various tourism products and services to the multitudes of delegates that attended the week-long tourism indaba.
The delegates were afforded an opportunity to visit some of Zimbabwe’s tourist attractions such as the Great Zimbabwe and Hwange Game Park and this is highly commendable. The co-hosting of the general assembly should obviously bring long term benefits to Zimbabwe and Zambia and the meeting proved that it is feasible to facilitate easy movement of tourists between the two countries. We want at this juncture to implore the two countries to, without delay, conclude discussions to establish a permanent one-stop border post at Victoria Falls.
During the general assembly the two countries established a temporary one-stop border post to speed up the movement of people and goods between the two countries and according to reports the arrangement was very successful. There is therefore no excuse not to establish a permanent one-stop border post in Victoria Falls as the two countries are set to benefit immensely. The delays at border posts have been singled out as one of the major stumbling blocks in promoting tourism in many countries as the delays frustrate visitors.
Online Reporter