Prophet Ngwenya engages India for religious tourism partnership

PROMINENT religious leader and Bulawayo-based Prophet Thabiso Ngwenya says he is working on establishing links with India to promote religious tourism in the country following his recent visit to the Asian country.

In line with the Government’s drive to achieve a US$5 billion industry by 2025, which the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry says has already been met, Prophet Ngwenya says promoting religious tourism will go a long way in boosting the sector’s earnings.

He was recently invited as guest of honour during the Afro-Asian Students Connection in India (AASCI) graduation ceremony.

AASCI is an African and Asian student’s business platform where all African and Asian associations are represented.

“I was invited as the guest of honour at the event, which had around 3 000 people gathered. There are students based in India who once visited our church and I believe they are the ones who proposed my invitation as the guest,” he told Chronicle.

“Every year they invite various people to officiate and this year I was invited.”

Prophet Ngwenya says during his visit he saw a big opportunity to tap into religious tourism as India has one of the biggest world populations, which can benefit the country.

He said India could be used as the spring board to launch the initiative with similar potential ventures in other Asian and Western countries.

“There was a lot of interest in what we are doing back home and there was curiosity to visit our place in Bulawayo for visitors to have a feel of our spiritual work.

“I want to use that to support Government plans to develop the country`s tourism sector,” Prophet Ngwenya said.

“When people visit us for religious tourism they will need to book at local hotels and spend money.

“That also gives us the opportunity to share places of interest they can visit here in Bulawayo like the Museum, Khami Ruins, the National Art Gallery and Matobo National Park to mention a few.”

Meanwhile, Prophet Ngwenya said his church, The Faith in Christ International, has been granted permission to build a skills training centre at his church site in Pumula suburb to offer life skills courses.

He said in future they will build a school at the site to provide affordable education to members of the community.

“Our application was approved by the city council so that we do a skills training centre, which will offer professional courses to members of the community,” said Prophet Ngwenya.

“The future plan is to build a school because our aim is to help people. I have no plans of building a flamboyant church there.”

Prophet Ngwenya was in June this year awarded two honorary doctorate degrees in social and leadership management as well as in divinity by two United States of America Universities in recognition of his influence and work in society.