UNWTO countdown begins

of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation  general assembly.
The event will be held in August next year in Victoria Falls. Over 4 000 delegates from across the world are expected to attend the mega-tourism event.

This comes at a time when the Government has expressed confidence that the country was going to successfully co-host the international event with its neighbour Zambia despite some negative statements about the country and its state of preparedness.

In an interview yesterday, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority head of public relations, events and protocol, Mr Sugar Chagonda, confirmed the latest development.
He said all was set for the official launch of the countdown to 24 August next year.

“ZTA and the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry are organising the official launch to be held at the Victoria Falls Rest Camp in the resort town,” said Mr Chagonda.
“This is the platform to raise awareness of the event as we will be saying that we now have about 365 days to go and subtracting before the world descends on the country. So we are going to set the clock as we go to August next year.”

Mr Chagonda said that the event was also a marketing and publicity stunt to show the world that the country was on track to hosting the general assembly. The launch, he said, would be followed by a musical bash on the night of August 23.

Popular musicians Sulumani Chimbetu and Dendera Kings, gospel diva Fungisai Mashavave, Iyasa and some groups from Victoria Falls are expected to perform.
“The gala will all be about celebrating the event and everyone is welcome to come and enjoy this rare occasion. We want the ordinary Zimbabweans to also come and celebrate the coming of the event,” said Mr Chagonda.

He said they would be joined by their counterparts from Zambia.
“We are working with Zambia and we are likely to be together with them,” he said.

The official launch comes also at a time when the country was preparing for the second assessment visit by the UNWTO secretary-general, Dr Taleb Rifai, who is scheduled to arrive in the country at the end of the month.

The UNWTO boss was in the country in May to witness the historic signing ceremony of the co-hosting agreement by President Mugabe and his Zambian counterpart President Michael Sata on the Victoria Falls Bridge.