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should be packaged to sell not only Zimbabwe, but Africa to the world.
Minister Mzembi was speaking at the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe Annual Congress in Gweru last week.
The UNWTO general assembly will be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia in August next year.
“This is a big achievement for us as Africa as we will have over 180 countries visiting us at one go,” said Minister Mzembi.
“So, we want to do the best that we can to shake off the negative publicity we have been getting from Western media that has been hostile to us.
“We have to work hard now when we have the time to do so.”
Minister Mzembi said national leaders should be wary of building infrastructure that would turn out to be white elephants after the event.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a golden opportunity ahead of us to resuscitate and launch our sector to greater heights because already the facts and figures point to a sustained improvement in performance of the sector,” he said.
“We have a huge and exceptional opportunity to become a destination of choice arising out of this hosting of the UNWTO General Assembly.”
Minister Mzembi said there was a need for the tourism sector to be innovative and embrace modern day technology as a way of adapting to the new world order.
“We need to ensure that the collaterals to provide information on the destination Zimbabwe which includes other regions such as Great Zimbabwe, Eastern Highlands are available and are user-friendly in line with today’s technological age,” he said.
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“We need to deliver a lifetime experience to the delegates and visitors who will in turn become our ambassadors. We all know that even in this new world of information communication technology of Facebook, Twitter, YouTube the word of mouth still remains a great and inexpensive marketing tool.
“It is important that we leave an indelible mark on the experience of the hordes of delegates and visitors who are going to descend on Victoria Falls for the event.”
Zimbabwe has already attracted world attention after winning the bid to co-host the world event.
A number of airlines have returned to the country as they prepare to cash in on the tourism event.
Tourists have also been visiting the country after their confidence was boosted by the country’s winning of the bid to be co-host of the event.
Online Reporter