adminpreparations, challenges and speculation. Features Editor Isdore Guvamombe (IG) caught up with Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi (WM) on the sidelines of the Fitur International Travel and Tourism Expo in Madrid, Spain.
IG: You are leading a Zimbabwean delegation to Fitur, what is there for Zimbabwe?
WM: This is by far one of Europe’s prime travel and tourism expositions and, by the way, Spain is the headquarters of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and is therefore, critical for us as a country that is just about to co-host with Zambia, the 20th session of the UNWTO General Assembly from August 24 to 29, in the Victoria Falls. We want to use this event to leverage our co-hosting and sort out a few outstanding issues.
IG: Before we go into the issue of UNWTO, a brief account on your observation on the current Fitur exposition?
WM: We have just started Fitur but I feel it is a bit subdued because of the recession. It is slow and not what it used to be. So I think it’s time for us to shift focus from the traditional market to look at India, China and Russia because Western Europe has not found a solution out of its financial crisis.
IG: Back to our hosting of UNWTO General Assembly. You have met with your Zambian counterpart Ms Sylvia Masebo and UNWTO secretary general Mr Talib Rifai. What were you discussing?
WM: Well, it was the second tri-lateral meeting between Zimbabwe, Zambia and UNWTO. So we have ironed our minor problems. We were tying the loose ends on the UNWTO General Assembly to be held from August 24 to 29 in Victoria Falls and Livingstone. We were smoothing the rough edges on the final programme. And we have agreed and all is now set for Victoria Falls.
IG: So are we ready to co-host the General Assembly with Zambia?
WM: Yes we are. There is serious corporate and political will at the highest level in Zimbabwe to make sure that we successfully host the UNWTO. The office of the Vice President is chairing the committee and when you see a country’s Vice President chairing it means this is a very serious issue. We are taking UNWTO very seriously.
IG: There is the question about our holding of our national harmonised elections affecting UNWTO?
WM: The commitment is very high. It is at the highest level and like I said, the organisation on UNWTO General Assembly is vested in the office of the Vice President where over 18 ministries are involved. There are two thoughts. One is that we must hold the elections before the UNWTO general assembly and the other is that we hold the elections after UNWTO. But the truth is that there is a feeling that the post UNWTO General Assembly Government would want to claim fame over it and use it as a branding opportunity to re-brand the country. Whoever wins, would want to ride on the crest of the UNWTO. It will promote the Brand Zimbabwe.
Of course, there is the obvious danger on me that I could be a casualty of elections like you can see there is a high turnover of tourism ministers in that there is only me and one other minister left, ever since I became minister. It’s because of elections in Africa.
A few years ago, I joined the tourism family as the most junior Minister of Tourism but from the team that is now available, I am now number two in terms of seniority. (Laughing . . .) There is a dean and I am now the deputy dean of ministers in the UNWTO tourism family. There is a high turnover.
On the final analysis, we will see which school of thought wins. But no one should doubt the political will of the political principals in Zimbabwe to host, successfully the UNWTO General Assembly. They are very serious about the event.
IG: While still on UNWTO, have you solved issues of connectivity?
WM: Destination connectivity is an issue we are looking at. There is a problem of viability on African airlines. Our airlines! Out of the five best airlines in Africa, South African Airlines, our neighbours are certainly not one of the best, notwithstanding the support it gets from the mother government. Even with subsidies running to the tune of R5 billion from the mother government, it is still not viable. So we must start interrogating into the future, the theory of national airlines and see if they are viable and come up with business models that are viable.
However, because we are co-hosting with Zambia, access between Zimbabwe and Zambia is there at the Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls International Airport has its own technical problems but it is complemented on the Zambian side, where Livingstone airport is good. The issue is that a problem on the Zambian side is mitigated by the strength on the Zimbabwean side and vice versa. That is what co-hosting means. Victoria Falls airport cannot host wide boarded aircraft but Livingstone can.
IG: What about the visa regime for visitors and transport between the two countries during the event?
WM: Delegates are entitled to one visa. Once a visitor is in Zambia he or she can walk straight into Zimbabwe and vise versa. You can walk, you can drive or use any means and you will use just that one visa.
IG: Has the corporate world in Zimbabwe been of any assistance on the preparations of the UNWTO?
WM: Yah! We are beginning to have offers. For example the UNWTO welcoming dinner is taken over by Mbada Diamonds. So the clever corporates are identifying themselves with the mega event. I am here in Spain with two representatives of Mbada Diamonds, who have seen for themselves the benefit of identifying with the UNWTO. Other clever companies have started talking to us and I am sure, within a week or so, we will have more takers for most of the projects and programmes at the UNWTO General Assembly.
IG: Many people believe we do not have enough resources to host this event?
WM: No, no, no! On the issue of resources, we have enough resources and we have enough goodwill from Government. And, more good will from the international community which is asking us to name areas of need that include training at home, from journalists to technical staff. And locally we have few corporates who have taken positions to assist like I said, Mbada has taken over funding of the welcoming event. We are confident that in the next week more will be availing their social responsibilities and activities.
IG: How different is this General Assembly going to be from others hosted before?
WM: It will be a true and uniquely African flavour. The Victoria Falls is an African flavour on its own. Then there is the Kaza Transfrontier Park, which is Africa’s boundless theme of wildlife, bringing together flora and fauna into one product.
That, blending with the internal cultures of Zambia and Zimbabwe is truly African. Zambia has 73 languages that can culminate into 73 cultures and Zimbabwe has its own, array of cultures. This event will be uniquely African.
The effect is that it is going to be an example for all and sundry that the event goes beyond Zimbabwe and Zambia, beyond Sadc and indeed it is a continental event. It is an African event. It will be an African event.
It will be very successful.
Online Reporter