adminthe International Tourism Fair in Spain, which is being attended by a number of tourism ministers.
The monarch met Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Engineer Walter Mzembi and UNWTO Secretary-General Mr Taleb Rifai, during which he expressed confidence in Zimbabwe’s suitability to host the global conference.
In an interview, Minister Mzembi confirmed the congratulatory message from the Spanish monarch.
“The Prince has heartily congratulated Zimbabwe on winning the bid to host the UNWTO General Assembly and I had an opportunity to interface with him whereupon I extended an invitation to him to visit Zimbabwe which was well accepted.
“This indeed is indicative of the bilateral relations that are in existence between the two countries.” This will not be the first time for a member of the Spanish monarchy to visit Zimbabwe as King Juan Carlos I has been to the country before.
Fitur commenced with Zimbabwe’s stand attracting numerous inquiries, business deals and media interviews.
Commenting on the level of business generated by the show, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke said Fitur was a good catchment area for the Spanish and other European markets, which will be a major boost for Zimbabwe’s tourism.
“Spain is a market that has not been lucrative for us as a destination of late. However, this year’s edition of the show seems to be promising, as the meetings we are having have been optimal trajectory of an upward trend of tourist arrivals.
“Thorough marketing efforts we can win back the European market which has been a major contributor in tourism receipts in the past and Fitur is proving to be just the right platform to do just that,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, Dr Desire Sibanda, who is also the chairman of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Resource Mobilisation Committee, has expressed optimism in Zimbabwe’s success in hosting the huge tourism conference. Dr Sibanda, who is part of the Zimbabwean delegation at the Fitur Tourism Fair, said his committee is currently engaged in resource mobilisation to ensure that the conference is a resounding success.
“We are currently involved in mobilising resources for the conference and we believe Zimbabwe success story will bear testimony of the country being a conference and investment destination,” he said.
He reiterated the need for regional integration to ensure that the conference succeeds.
“While Zambia and Zimbabwe will jointly host this conference, there is need for the entire continent to put our heads together as we are one people,” he said.
“Zimbabwe and Zambia are having a smooth flow of operations in planning the hosting of the conference because we have always been one even from the time when we were once one federation – Rhodesia and Nyasaland. We continue to unite even as we invest efforts in hosting this event.”
Online Reporter