The Durban excursion

expanse of brow-sanded beaches.
There, heavy curls of brown sand lacing crescent azure cloves like flashes of silk, come with a frothy wash and swash sound.
During the day, slithers of startling waves come – again and again – the aqua-blue of the wave transforming light as it filters through the film of water.
The Indian Ocean, which begins as a deep sapphire and gradually turns to azure and finally a crystal clear turquoise as it reaches the shore, holds the eye captive.
At sunset, the sun wanes and causes the buildings to cast their silhouette shadows on the sand and one can enjoy the meringue-tips of the tumbling waves, while standing on the beach.
At this time, you see people – divers, surfers and swimmers, alike – drift off with their towels and beach bags, fighting sand between their toes, leaving behind a riot of dhows, boats and ship docking a spitting distance, behind.
At night, the city’s twinkling lights reflect in the sea waves whose roaring sound has become permanent symphony.
The sea offers a multifarious array of opportunities and so did the event that brought Zimbabweans to exhibit in this foreign land, the Indaba.
It is in this background that Zimbabwe, the great tourist land of Munhumutapa, was part of the hordes of countries that exhibited at Africa’s biggest international travel and tourism exposition.
What shocked many was the interest generated by the Zimbabwean stand, where there was brisk business with tourist wholesalers, business developers, potential investors and tourists themselves.
Although Zimbabwe was the only country that exhibited without the EU grant, there was renewed interest from everyone and its stand turned out to be a hive of activity.
The 27 companies that exhibited there, through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, had a hard time dealing with buyers, potential investors and tourist wholesalers from across the world.
Trading under the new and well-befitting brand: “Zimbabwe, A World of Wonders” which is a departure from the religion-insensitive “Africa’s Paradise”, Zimbabwe made enough noise for itself and it will not be a lie, to say the brand was internationally embraced.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi, ZTA chief Karikoga Kaseke, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa Mr Phelekezela Mpopko, Secretary for Tourism Dr Silvester Maunganidze and representatives of the 27 tourism companies, all played host to numerous inquirers.
International media – BBC, CNN, National Geographic, SABC, Sake 24, Fin 24 Media and others – had interview after interview with the minister and ZTA chief.
Rainbow Tourism Group, African Sun, Kanondo Safaris and Shearwater were among those who made serious impact at Indaba.
In the end, it was a worthy cause and Zimbabwe should continue exhibiting at these international arenas as part of a comprehensive marketing and perception management agenda. The Zimbabwean stand situated at the Sadc Hall was tastefully decorated and exuded a typical business aura in a manner that demeaned other exhibiting Sadc countries.
It was envied by many and going forward, issues raised were the visa regime, airline operations, pricing regime and perceptions of reality.
Outside these problems, Zimbabwe is a smorgasbord of tourist attractions that can easily match any country in the world, with the Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River, Mana Pools, the Great Zimbabwe, Chiremba Balancing Rocks, the Eastern Highlands and Hwange National Park ready to take measure for measure with any any tourist destination.
At the end, there was no more message sent to the international tourism industry than simply that “Zimbabwe is Back”.
Sanctions or no sanctions, Zimbabwe is back, thanks to the dedicated sons and daughters of this lovely country, under the tutelage of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
isdore.guvamombe @zimpapers.co.zw