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Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
A DELEGATION comprising 100 Israelis is touring Bulawayo on a religious tourism initiative for the next five days, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, said yesterday. Religious tourism is also commonly referred to as faith tourism and it is a form of tourism whereby people of faith travel individually or in groups for missionary, pilgrimage or leisure (fellowship) purposes.
“Please be advised that a group of 100 Israelis is expected to arrive in the country today (yesterday) . . . on Ethiopian Airways. They are set to tour Bulawayo on religious tourism for the next five days,” said ZTA in a statement.
Last year, Tourism and Hospitality Minister Engineer Walter Mzembi unveiled a religious tourism policy that seeks to tap into the popularity of charismatic prophets in the country.
Such prophets include Emmanuel Makandiwa and Uerbet Angel.
The policy was borne out of a realisation that many people were being attracted to local religious shrines, such as the Bernard Mizeki Shrine in Marondera.
Minister Mzembi has also cited the Zaoga Prayer Mountain in Bindura as well as the Johane Marange shrine as having the potential to see the government policy’s success.
Religious leaders such as World Conquerors Christian Centre Bishop Climate Irungu have promptly greeted the religious tourism policy in Zimbabwe with enthusiasm.
Eng Mzembi challenged the country to take religious tourism with seriousness like other countries.
It is hoped that religious tourism would be one of the major branches of the tourism sector.
A religious tourism board expected to be announced would spearhead the project beginning with the holding of a conference.
derick.khumalo