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Isdor Guvamombe Tourism Matrix
Travel agencies are a vital cog in driving the growth of any tourism sector across the world.
The agencies are very important because they are the ones that interface with the tourists.They craft the right packages that attract visitors to our shores. They are key in facilitating travel to and from the country.
Local agencies have been kept busy in recent months due to the coming in of more airlines into the country.
It is only natural that their contribution should be recognized through awards.
In this regard that one of the leading airlines flying into the country Emirates recently held awards to honour outstanding travel agencies in the country.
The inaugural awards that were held at a local hotel saw Traverze Travel receiving the airline’s top award for excellence – Top Agent and the First Class Top Sales prize for 2013 /14. The awards ceremony attracted more than 50 representatives from the industry.
Emirates country manager for Zimbabwe, Paulos Legesse said honouring travel agencies was a mark of respect to exceptional efforts made by Zimbabwe’s travel industry to provide the best possible products and services to customers and suppliers.
“It is the spirit and spark that drives Emirates in every aspect of its business and it is also the quality that sets us apart from our competitors. It is also this characteristic that we most appreciate in our partners. We are fortunate that in Zimbabwe the travel industry has that drive and determination in abundance. It makes for a truly exciting partnership,” said Mr Legesse.
Apart from Traverse other winners included Premier Travel and Star Travel that were first and second runners up respectively.
Wings Travel, Genesis Travel, Harvey World Travel, Sontine Travel, Pealsard Travel, Travel 2000 and HRG Rennies received certificates of acknowledgement.
The Business Class Top Sales prize for 2013/14 went to Star Travel while the Economy Class Top Sales prize went to Premier Travel.
Mr Legesse hinted that the airline was optimistic for the future, as demonstrated by the continued expansion of its global network, which now reaches 143 destinations in 81 countries – with Oslo and Brussels launching in September and Budapest in October.
He added that there were a lot of opportunities for travel agents to promote packages to some of the finest sporting events in the world – Formula 1, tennis, rugby, horse racing and of course football, for instance.
It is important that other airlines come on board to sponsor similar initiatives which will foster increased competition amongst agencies.
This is the kind of incentives that are needed to grow the tourism sector and enable it to realize the gains envisaged under the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-economic Transformation.
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