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A TEAM from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) inspectorate is expected in Zimbabwe towards the end of this month to conduct the last inspection on preparations made to co-host the general assembly, scheduled for August this year, an official said yesterday.
Zimbabwe and Zambia will co-host the UNWTO general assembly in Victoria Falls and Livingstone respectively in August this year where 1 200 delegates are expected to attend.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry permanent secretary Ms Margaret Sangarwe said the UNWTO inspectorate team would be in the country from June 26 to 29.
“The purpose of their visit is to ascertain the state of preparedness focusing mainly on the shuttle service on how people are going to be moved across the border from Victoria Falls to Livingstone in Zambia,” she said.
Ms Sangarwe said the shuttle service would be simulated for the team to get an appreciation of the way it would be operating.
She said the team would also focus on the venue, assessing preparations that hotels have made for the event.
Turning to the general preparedness for the event, Ms Sangarwe said everything was on course for a successful hosting of the general assembly.
“In terms of level of preparedness, I can say we are happy because in terms of accommodation the hotels all of them have done renovations and some are just finishing off,” she said.
She said some of the hotels had started receiving bookings for the general assembly.
Ms Sangarwe said construction of structures to complement the actual venue, the Elephant Hills Hotel, had already started.
“The company contracted for the job has already deployed a technical team on the ground,” she said.
On transport, Ms Sangarwe said the Government had engaged the services of the Central Mechanical and Equipment Depot to provide all the transportation.
“We have agreed with our Zambian counterparts on what each is going to provide, thus we have agreed on the number of buses and the CMED is already working on it,” she said.
Meanwhile, among other preparatory work, the Victoria Falls Hospital has undergone a major facelift and re-kitting with new equipment while the water supply system was being overhauled.
Almost very road has now been resurfaced, while the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway is being widened from the Victoria Falls International Airport to the town.
In addition, the runway at the Victoria Falls International Airport is being expanded to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft while the terminal building is being extended to accommodate more passengers.
On its part, industry regulator the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is conducting massive training of hotel staff in the resort town to prepare them for hosting the mega event. – New Ziana
Online Reporter