Chronicle Editor
Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]
A collective of small to medium tourism operators in Victoria Falls is set to hold a strategic Economic Empowerment Entrepreneurship Forum on Saturday to discuss challenges faced by emerging operators in the resort town.
The operators have taken the initiative to bring relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, to discuss these challenges.
The forum aims to bring together small to medium enterprises within the tourism industry to share insights, discuss challenges, and explore collaborative strategies for growth.
One of the forum conveners, Mr Kudakwashe Chigoma, said they seek to have a level playing field with established operators.
He noted that they seek a 10-15 percent tourism business allocation by local authorities and parastatals, adding that the forum aligns with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 of leaving no one behind, emphasising the importance of inclusive economic growth.
Mr Chigoma said they have invited the Minister of Tourism, Barbara Rwodzi, and the Minister of State for Matabeleland North Province, Richard Moyo, as guest speakers.
He said the unique challenges faced by small players in the tourism space, including access to markets, financing, and regulatory hurdles, would be discussed.
The forum will provide a platform for emerging operators to share experiences, offer insights, and engage in discussions on how to overcome obstacles and seize opportunities in the tourism sector.
An invitation letter sent to the Ministry of Tourism reads, “As you are aware, Victoria Falls stands as the premier tourism hub of Zimbabwe, attracting visitors from across the globe.
“This forum aims to bring together small-scale players in the tourism sector, providing a platform for them to share ideas, forge partnerships, and work collaboratively towards the achievement of our national goal of a $5 billion tourism industry by 2025.
“Given the significance of this event and its alignment with the ministry’s objectives, we believe that the Honourable Barbara Rwodzi’s presence would not only inspire the participants but also underscore the Government’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth within the tourism sector,” reads the invitation to the Ministry of Tourism.
Mr Chigoma said given Victoria Falls’ status as a prime tourism destination in Zimbabwe, the event provides a critical platform for stakeholders to collaborate and innovate.
“We would be deeply honoured if you could present the Provincial Tourism Overview during the forum. Your insights on the current state of tourism in our region and your vision for how small-scale players can best contribute to and benefit from this dynamic sector will be invaluable to the participants,” he wrote to Minister Moyo.
Matabeleland North, where Victoria Falls is located, is endowed with vast natural resources, including minerals and forests, as well as a rich culture supported by a hospitable population.
The province is naturally the country’s tourism capital as it is home to the Rainforest in the prime resort town of Victoria Falls and has the country’s biggest game park — Hwange National Park, Chamabondo, Zambezi, and Victoria Falls national parks, where the Big Five game and various other species and birds, as well as several tourism activities, are found.
Online Reporter