Ministries partner to boost tourism

THE Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, and Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ministry have formed a partnership that will see the country’s air and road networks upgraded in a bid to boost tourism and provide better domestic connectivity and accessibility.

Under the “Whole of Government Approach”, the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International, Victoria Falls and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airports are being upgraded, with construction of an airport in Mutasa South being planned.

The country’s road networks worsened over time due to wear and tear, as well as damage from heavily laden haulage trucks.

To combat this, the Government declared a State of Disaster and started the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme, while private-public partnerships are being sought for the complete revamping of heavily affected highways, such as the Beitbridge-Victoria Falls Road.

The Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls and Beitbridge-Masvingo-Harare-Chirundu highways are strategic trade routes on the regional north-to-south corridor linking Zimbabwe with South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and DR Congo.

Airports are undergoing a major uplift, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that the country is well connected by road and air transport to boost tourism, especially travel by locals between cities.

In a recent interview, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Joshua Sacco, said the Government is targeting creating an airport hub from where airlines will connect to other parts of the country.

“This means that we are looking at the Mutare Airport, a new airport construction in Mutasa South, upgrade of Charles Prince Airport as well as Buffalo Range in Masvingo and others, so that we promote travel by air by our citizens,” he said.

The Government has also been working on upgrading Hwange Airport near Hwange National Park, to enhance connectivity to the game reserve to boost tourism.

Deputy Minister Sacco said improved connectivity will also lead to cheaper airfares, so that citizens can fly locally in line with the Government’s deliberate policy to promote domestic tourism.

“We are looking at all these issues in conjunction with the Ministry of Tourism, as we have a ‘Whole of Government Approach’. We will work together, so that our tourists can have ease of access to all resorts and cities and hopefully with cheaper airfares, our citizens can travel intercity,” he said.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Barbara Rwodzi, said connectivity is key and stressed the importance of sprucing up roads and enhancing affordable airlines, particularly for domestic tourism.

“We are very much aware that our road network is not good at the moment, particularly the Beitbridge to Victoria Falls road.

“We are very happy to let you know that at the moment the road is being patched up, but the ultimate goal is to have a public-private partnership arrangement so that this road is completely revamped,” she said.

“We are a part of that as the Ministry of Tourism in the ‘Whole of Government Approach’, together with Ministry of Transport and other stakeholders.

“For us, domestic tourism is high in our strategy and without accessibility and connectivity to our destinations, our efforts will be put to nothing. And yes, the airlines that take people from Harare to different destinations internally are charging exorbitantly and we are in discussion with them to achieve affordability. Being able to connect is something else, but affordability is key,” said Minister Rwodzi.

There have been concerns about exorbitant airfares in the country, which Minister Rwodzi said could also be a result of lack of competition.

“We are encouraging airlines to reduce fares because it’s not good for those wanting to connect locally,” she said.