UNWTO assembly legacy to stay on for generations to come

Patrick Chitumba
THE beat may have officially ended with the end of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly last week but the legacy of the global event to the resort town and country is just beginning and may live on for generations to come.More than 121 full delegations from member states, 140 delegates from all over the world, 750 delegates, 900 participants from the media and private sectors and 49 ministers and heads of delegations attended the tourism indaba.

The 24 to 29 August event recorded two firsts — it was the first assembly to be held in Southern Africa and the first to be attended by over 120 countries.

UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai said last week, “The 20th session of UNWTO general assembly meets here in the heart of Africa. This is the first time that the general assembly gathers here in southern Africa; this is the first ever most attended general assembly in the history of UNWTO,” he said.

The once-in-a-lifetime event which is expected to leave a remarkable impact in the two countries was graced Presidents Michael Sata of Zambia, Joyce Banda of Malawi and President Mugabe.

Before Zambia and Zimbabwe won the right to co-host the premier tourism event, very few people knew about the existence of this UN specialised agency but now more people now know about UNWTO and Victoria Falls and Livingstone towns and the “smoke that thunders” or Mosi-Oa-Tunya in a bigger way than before.

For the people of Victoria Falls it is difficult to find someone who has not been touched directly or remotely by the meeting — right from the street vendor to the five-star hotel down the Victoria Falls.

The general assembly triggered economic boom leading to more income for organisations and individuals in Victoria Falls and Livingstone towns.

Operators in the hospitality industry, taxi owners, supermarkets, and other stakeholders in the business community had all increased their staffing levels for at least one week.

At Zambezi Sun Hotel, Falls Hotel, Elephant Hills Resort and Victoria Falls Hotel among other hospitality establishments in Livingstone and Victoria Falls, several students and school leavers were engaged on week-long contracts in hotels, lodges and other businesses.

The increased volume of business meant that some of the workers at hotels, restaurants, lodges had to work double shifts to attend to delegates.  In the two towns, curio vendors and other people trading in other artifacts like the Zimbabwe flag said they had enjoyed brisk business.

Taxi operators who were charging $30 between Victoria Falls International Airport and the town also indicated that they had recorded brisk business.

Conference organisers registered more than 75 taxis in Victoria Falls to ferry clients during the general assembly.
“The only problem was the availability of these shuttle buses provided by the Government. Otherwise the general assembly has been good for us,” said Mr John Sibanda a taxi driver.

Nightclubs in both towns also made brisk business as delegates took time out after meetings to explore the night life.
In Livingstone, some ladies of the night and conmen seemed to have moved to the town to take advantage of the same opportunities.

In Victoria Falls, there were very few ladies of the night in bars after the police allegedly rounded them up as they “cleaned the town” ahead of the general assembly.

Residents said there was a breath of fresh air in the town after the resealing, rehabilitation of roads from Victoria Falls International Airport to town including Chinotimba and Mkhosana townships. New signage and road markings were also put in place.

At the same time, there is a new water and sewer reticulation system after the Government bought new sewer and water pumps which were installed to make sure that the resort town does not run out of water at any time.

The general assembly also saw the rehabilitation of Victoria Falls District Hospital into a new state-of-the-art medical centre. New wings and administration blocks were constructed and completed. There is also a new kitchen, new equipment at the hospital. Work is in progress for the completion of the security  wall.

TelOne also commissioned a $2 million cyber link to make the resort town a cyber city.  Econet Wireless installed temporary boosters which have since been removed.

Out-going Tourism and Hospitality Minister, Engineer Walter Mzembi said while the country’s image was the overall winner, the general assembly had also left behind a great legacy for the people of Victoria Falls.

“The Government did a lot of programmes in and around Victoria Falls. The private sector also did a lot for Victoria Falls. The town is also turning into a conference hub after the construction of the marquee at Elephant Hills resort. So the tourism indaba has left a legacy for the town,” he said.

President Mugabe, speaking during the general assembly said Victoria Falls was nature’s greatest dream adding that it has an inspirational effect on anyone who sees it.

The President marketed Zimbabwe and Zambia as the ultimate destinations for tourism and at the same time fired a broadside at the United States and United Kingdom for “misinformation.”

“There was posted on Internet from London that a bomb had been planted somewhere here, for you to be frightened so that you could disperse and then it would be said the meeting failed. Then also from Washington, and we are surprised, that visiting the Victoria Falls is dangerous.

Ladies and gentlemen, you are now ambassadors to tell the truth. We seek no harm to others; we seek friendship and co-operation, we seek peace and not war in Africa, we seek good neighbourliness and respect for each other’s territorial integrity. May those of our neighbours in the world who regard themselves superior recognise that small though we are, God has given us the fortune, the wonder…” he said.

President Mugabe said there is neither a greater wonder nor a greater dream than the mighty Victoria Falls.
“How it came about only nature knows. Dreams come about because we humans sleep and our minds work on them but the Victoria Falls was nature’s own dream.

“And nature’s own dream is there for us to get inspired, let come those who doubt that the Victoria Falls has that inspirational effect on their mind, let those who would want to see harm rather than peace come and they will have their minds repaired at the Victoria Falls,” he said during the closing ceremony of the general assembly at Royal Livingstone Hotel in Livingstone.

He appealed to the delegates not to make this their last visit as it was merely their first.
So for the country and for the people of Victoria Falls, it is victory time.

The general assembly was running under the theme: “It’s Our Time — Showcasing Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls World Wonder.”
More visitors in the country mean more revenue sources meaning more income to spend for the people.

The UNWTO is the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism and is the leading international organisation in the field of travel and tourism.

The UNWTO promotes tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development and environmental sustainability and offers leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

Headquartered in Madrid, Spain, UNWTO encourages the implementation of the Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, to maximise tourism’s socio-economic contribution while minimizing its possible negative impacts, and is committed to promoting tourism as an instrument in achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), geared towards reducing poverty and fostering sustainable development.

UNWTO generates market knowledge, promotes competitive and sustainable tourism policies and instruments, fosters tourism education and training, and works to make tourism an effective tool for development through technical assistance projects in over 100 countries around the world.

UNWTO’s membership includes 155 countries, six associate members and over 400 affiliate members representing the private sector, educational institutions, tourism associations and local tourism authorities.

The general assembly may have ended but the beat is still on!