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Business Reporter
THE Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (Haz) is anticipating an upsurge in arrivals of tourists following the endorsement of the country as a safe and attractive destination to visit by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly in August.In an interview on the eve of the congress in Victoria Falls yesterday, Haz president Mr Tich Hwingwiri said the congress would discuss benefits accruing from the general assembly.
“We are meeting at a time when the ground work has been done by the government through the co-hosting of the general assembly.
“Now the country is known by the world. It is known that it is a safe destination and it is now up to us as an industry to tap from that endorsement.
“We are meeting here as the player in the tourism industry and we are looking at how we can benefit more from our natural resources after the UNWTO.”
Mr Hwingwiri said the congress was being held under the theme: “Putting people first” because it was more than relevant for the industry to see to it that locals know how to handle the tourists when they arrive in the country.
“From next year, we are expecting to see an increase in arrivals.
“The future if bright for the country and its tourism sector,” he said.
The tourism industry is targeting to grow its contribution to the GDP to 15 percent by 2015, on the basis of 3, 2 million arrivals and $5 billion in tourism receipts.
Staff development and marketing will be the key focus areas of discussion.
More than 160 delegates from across Zimbabwe had arrived on Wednesday for three days of discussions, networking and social interaction.
Running concurrently with the congress will be the annual Hospitality Fair at which suppliers of products and services for the hospitality industry will have exhibition stands.
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