Stakeholders urged to expedite UNWTO preps

In an interview, the vice president of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe, Mr Tamuka Macheka, said all tourism stakeholders who will be part of this event should increase their preparation pace as time was already running out.
“Preparations of this nature need time and resources since the reputation of the country will be at stake if the preparations flop.

“A lot of financial resources are needed, so for businesses to hit their targets they have to act fast and plan ahead so that they come up with alternatives where it will be necessary,” he said.
He said the event was likely to change the fortunes of the country by advertising it to potential tourists and investors who once lacked confidence in the country.
“By preparing well for the occasion, we would have sold Zimbabwe well to the rest of the world hence boosting the economy of our country.”

He said stakeholders who would have managed to prepare for this occasion are likely to transform their businesses as this was a chance in a life time.
Mr Macheka sad there was a need for the media to aggressively market the vast tourism products in Zimbabwe ahead of the meeting.
“The media should vigorously market the tourism sector as we prepare to co-host the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly in 2013.”

He said most people worldwide, including some in Zimbabwe, were not aware of the attractive tourism products found in the country.
He applauded Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi for making efforts to help all tourism sector players through the Tourism Revolving funds meant to help stakeholders in preparing for the UNTWO general assembly.

“As the tourism sector we have to work intensively on developing our infrastructure for the country to create a lasting impression to the world,” he said.
Zimbabwe and Zambia won the bid to co-host the 20th session of the 183-member country UNWTO general assembly last October.

The general assembly is the principal gathering of the UNWTO which meets every two years to consider the budget and programme of work of the United Nations specialised agency on tourism.
Zambia and Zimbabwe are located in the heart of pristine southern Africa and the two countries are joint custodians of the Victoria Falls.