adminIsdore Guvamombe recently in VICTORIA FALLS
VICE President Joice Mujuru last week said she was happy with preparations for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly scheduled for August 24 to 29. Speaking after touring construction work and tourist facilities in the town, VP Mujuru declared that Zimbabwe was ready to co-host the UNWTO General Assembly with Zambia.
“As chairperson of the committee I am very happy with progress and preparations made so far. Let me say we are ready for the general assembly. There are a few touch-ups here and there, which will be completed on time,’’ she said.
VP Mujuru also officially launched the Victoria Falls UNWTO golf tournament, meant to promote the resort on Facebook and Twitter by a team of top golfers.
“It’s a good idea to play golf and I am sure I will now be a golf player. Since I joined politics I never played sports. I am converted to golf now,’’ she said after teeing off at the Elephant Hills Golf Course.
Meanwhile, the UNWTO has released US$80 000 towards the construction of a traditional village accommodation at Mpisi village on the outskirts of Victoria Falls.
Mpisi village run by Chief Mpisi of Monde village is going to be set up as a general assembly satellite village under its Sustainable Tourism for Elimination of Poverty (STEP) programme.
Addressing people gathered for a tree-planting event ahead of the general assembly at Mpisi village, the Secretary for Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ms Margaret Sangarwe said the venue would be a tourist attraction, affording delegates a local experience with traditional cuisine, arts and crafts.
Earlier officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, tour and adventure operators embarked on a tree planting exercise at the general assembly venue, Elephant Hills Resort, where over 50 trees where planted.
“While we are all aware that the main venue will be Elephant Hills Resort, Mpisi village has been declared a satellite venue or village for everyday activities during the course of the general assembly. The village will be used to showcase our culture, that is the food we eat and our traditional ways of living.
“At the same time UNWTO has released US$80 000 for setting up of a “votel” set-up for accommodation for tourists. A “votel” is a village hotel made from pole and dagga under thatch. The money will also be used to spruce up the village,” said Ms Sangarwe.
She said cultural tourism was one way her ministry was diversifying tourism.
“My ministry is moving towards diversifying the tourism product. This product should include our culture, education since we are number one in terms of literacy rate on the continent, among other things.
We are also working in conjunction with (the Department) of Museums and Monuments in setting up shrines in places where liberation war heroes are laid. So tourism is not all about the Victoria Falls Rainforest or the big five animals, it encompasses everything in our lives and what we have to do is make sure that we do enough to attract tourists,” she said.
Ms Sangarwe said planting of trees at the conference venue and at Mpisi village was aimed at making the general assembly a greener one.
Online Reporter