admin
Patrick Chitumba Senior Reporter
VICE-President Joice Mujuru has expressed optimism that the 9th Routes Africa 2014 Conference to be held in the resort town of Victoria Falls later this month will come up with resolutions that can increase tourist arrivals in the country.
In an interview on the sidelines of the Matabeleland North Provincial Women’s League meeting on the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset) at Lupane State University on Friday, VP Mujuru said Routes Africa was an opportunity for the country to grow in terms of tourist arrivals.
“There are going to be a lot of opportunities that will come because of Routes Africa conference,” she said.
Cde Mujuru said Zimbabwe was naturally central in Southern Africa, adding that the conference would result in the growth of the region.
“There are a lot of discussions that will be taking place and we are expecting a lot of traffic into the country after the conference,” she said.
Vice-President Mujuru said the fact that Air Zimbabwe had passed the safety audit by the International Transport Association should give the country a competitive edge over other tourist destinations in the region.
She said the Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister (Dr Obert Mpofu) should have a plan on the best practices for Air Zimbabwe so that it continues flying thereby connecting the country with the world.
Routes Africa conference is the largest route development forum for Africa where airlines, aviation, tourism and government representatives from the continent meet to explore opportunities to develop the aviation industry.
Some of the invited and confirmed airlines for the event include American Airways, Emirates, and Air Turkey.
Recently, Routes Africa Host and Projects Manager, Melanie Page, said Victoria Falls was a spectacular destination with all the facilities they need for the conference and pledged to encourage British citizens to travel to Zimbabwe to see what the country has to offer.
The 9th Routes Africa Conference will bring together airport authorities, international airlines and tourism authorities from the African continent and beyond to address the development of new airline routes among other issues.
The conference, to run from June 22 to 24, is expected to attract more than 400 local and foreign delegates.
Online Reporter