Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere, [email protected]
BULAWAYO is set for a major sporting and tourism boost after South Africa’s Proteas Women arrived in the City of Kings and Queens for a historic tour that begins tomorrow and runs until September 19.
The tour will see the Proteas Women face Zimbabwe’s Lady Chevrons in a five-match T20I series at Queens Sports Club, an event the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) believes will help showcase Bulawayo as a destination capable of hosting international sporting events.
With cricket taking centre stage, the tour is expected to attract players, officials, supporters and visitors, creating opportunities for businesses across the tourism and hospitality sectors.
ZTA Bulawayo Metropolitan Province regional manager Lindarose Ntuli said the visit was about more than cricket, describing sport as a powerful tool for destination marketing and tourism growth.
“Sport tourism continues to be a key driver of visitor arrivals and destination visibility. Hosting international teams such as South Africa not only showcases Bulawayo’s capability to host world-class sporting events, but also provides a platform to promote our culture, hospitality, and tourism products to a global audience,” said Ntuli.
“It’s an honour to host the Proteas Women on their maiden historic tour.”
The presence of the South African side at Queens Sports Club presents Bulawayo with an opportunity to showcase its strengths, with hotels, restaurants, transport operators and tourism establishments expected to benefit from increased visitor traffic.
For the ZTA, the tour also highlights the growing role of sport as a tourism product capable of generating economic activity while raising the profile of host destinations.
The close proximity between Zimbabwe and South Africa makes the tour particularly significant, given the strong sporting, cultural and tourism ties shared by the two countries.
Beyond the action at Queens Sports Club, visitors will have an opportunity to experience Bulawayo’s rich cultural heritage, renowned hospitality and diverse tourism attractions.
The historic nature of the Proteas Women’s maiden tour adds further significance to the occasion, giving local cricket enthusiasts a rare chance to watch top-level international competition while showcasing Bulawayo’s capacity to stage major events.
As the Lady Chevrons prepare to host their neighbours, attention will naturally focus on the cricket, but the benefits of the tour could extend well beyond the boundary ropes.
For Bulawayo, the series presents an opportunity to demonstrate how sport can drive tourism, support business and strengthen destination marketing efforts.
And as the Proteas Women and Lady Chevrons battle for supremacy at Queens Sports Club from tomorrow until September 19, the City of Kings and Queens will be hoping to emerge as one of the biggest winners. — @FungaiMuderere.
