Encouraging signs for tourism

Mary Mutamiri

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndhlovu says there are encouraging signs of recovery for the sector.

He was speaking at a Press briefing where the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) unveiled Winnie Muchanuka as the new chief executive officer.

Muchanyuka takes over from the ZTA operating officer Givemore Chidzidzi, who has been the Acting CEO since 2019.

Minister Ndhlovu said the tourism revenue inflows this year have increased.

“From the numbers I have been receiving, for the first four months, tourism inflows internationally have increased by 103 percent.

“Our revenue inflows for the first four months last year was US$94 million, and this year we are sitting on US$214 million increase.

“I am highlighting this because I want Winnie to be alive to the fact that there is an expectation that as we are opening up we want to see the tourism industry continuing to grow bigger and bigger.

“As Government, and as ZTA in particular, the role is to facilitate the growth of the industry,” he said.

He added:

“Winnie is not a stranger to the tourism industry…it was one of those announcements that the industry waited for, in my view, with comfort.

“The incoming CEO is coming to take over the reins at a time when the Government has high hopes for the tourism industry as a whole.

“She is coming to take over at a time when there are clear signs of recovery in our tourism performance.

“Those who deal with numbers have been telling us that our first quarter, in terms of tourism performance, has really been quite promising.

“We hope that we don’t only maintain the trajectory but we continue to increase our performance.

“We hope that the third quarter and the fourth quarter will surpass our targets.”