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A TEAM of technical experts from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) is in Victoria Falls to conduct a final inspection of the country’s preparations ahead of the general assembly in August. Zimbabwe and Zambia would co-host the 20th session of the UNWTO general assembly starting on 24 August and ending on 29 August.
The technical team, headed by UNWTO relations and services executive director, Mr Zoltan Somogyi, regional director for Africa, Mr Osumane Diane and Mr Munir Rates, chief of conferences arrived in the resort town yesterday from Livingstone — Zambia where they were conducting a similar inspection.
They were met by the Deputy Chief Secretary to the Cabinet, Mr Justine Mupamhanga, permanent secretaries for Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development, Public Works, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Mr Munesu Munodawafa, Engineer George Mlilo and Ms Margaret Mukahanana- Sangarwe and other senior Government officials.
The team went on to inspect facilities including the venue for the official opening ceremony — Elephant Hills Resort.
In an interview, Mr Mupamhanga said the inspectors were impressed with Zimbabwe’s state of preparedness.
“Let me emphasise that the UNWTO team is impressed with the progress on the ground.
They are also showing us the format they want for offices and conference rooms for the indaba. We also have our Zambian counterparts who are here with us as we put final touches here and there,” he said.
Mr Mupamhanga said they had also visited the venue for the official opening of the general assembly.
“Everything is in place. We visited the venue for the official opening ceremony and we are ready for the event,” he said.
The technical team’s visit comes less than two months before the mega event and hardly a month after Zimbabwe and Zambia were given the final endorsement by the UNWTO executive council at a meeting held in Serbia.
The technical team’s visit also comes hardly a week after the Zimbabwean Government Inter-Ministerial Committee concluded its assessment of the facilities in Victoria Falls.
The assessment began with a tour of the Victoria Falls Airport where the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe is undertaking some renovations at the airport terminal, then the road works, health and tourist facilities.
The airport refurbishments will see the terminal having ATM facilities, among other modern services and temporary shelters to handle increased arrivals for the general assembly.
The airport refurbishment has seen the construction of a 4 000-metre runway and supporting infrastructure at a cost of $202 million sourced from the Export-Import Bank of China.
Hotels, restaurants and stakeholders in Victoria Falls have also embarked on a massive facelift in line with Government preparations.
This is the first time that UNWTO general assembly is being held in Southern Africa and the second time it is being held on the African continent after Senegal hosted it in 2007.
More than 1 200 delegates, among them ministers of tourism from 186 countries, captains of the tourism industry, tourist wholesalers and stakeholders are expected in Victoria Falls.
Online Reporter