Vic Falls to stage UNWTO street parade

Patrick Chitumba Victoria Falls Reporter
PLAYERS in the tourism industry in Victoria Falls are going to hold a United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) welcome street parade on Friday.
The parade dubbed “Sounds of Mosi-oa-Tunya” comes after the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) was asked to scrap the proposed Victoria Falls Carnival.

Speaking during a general assembly local organising committee meeting here yesterday, the brains behind the street parade, Rayan Dana said they came up with the idea after they realised that there was no activity planned to welcome the world to Victoria Falls for the general assembly.

Zimbabwe and Zambia are co-hosting the 20th session of the general assembly from 24-29 August in Victoria Falls and Livingstone.

“As operators in Victoria Falls, we decided to come together and welcome the world in style. This is not a carnival because people will think that it is a ZTA event. This is our event as players in the tourism industry,” he said

Dana said already the response from operators and other stakeholders was overwhelming adding that they had limited the number of people per company to only 20.

Outgoing Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Engineer Walter Mzembi, said the idea of a street parade was noble adding that the Government was fully behind such creativity.

“This is your show, this is your chance to market your products as you welcome the world to your town. I am happy that you are providing your own form of reception. What was cancelled was ZTA carnival but you can have your own parade which is your own way of receiving delegates,” he said.

On Friday operators will start to assemble at 2:30pm at the various designated stops and the street parade will commence at 3:30pm.
The parade will start at the rainforest car park and end at Chinotimba Stadium.