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The tourism exhibition starts this week and ends on 3 February.
Addressing journalists on Friday at Rainbow Towers in Harare, Eng Mzembi said the UNWTO technical inspectorate had been impressed by the level of preparedness Zimbabwe and Zambia had made ahead of the general assembly.
Zimbabwe and Zambia in 2011 won the bid to co-host the global tourism summit in Victoria Falls and Livingstone on the Zambian side.
“Tomorrow (Saturday) I am leading a delegation to attend Fitur tourism exhibition in Madrid.
“There, we are expected to hold trilateral meetings between ourselves, Zambia and UNWTO officials on the programming of the UNWTO general assembly in August,” he said.
The UNWTO third technical inspectorate was in the country to assess the state of preparedness by the two countries to host the event.
“In terms of the preparations, we are on track. In September last year, I was in Madrid where the UNWTO inspectorate said they were generally impressed by our state of preparedness to host the general assembly.
“And just some few weeks ago the third UNWTO technical inspectorate was here and visited Victoria Falls and Livingstone to inspect the facilities in Victoria Falls and Livingstone. They were generally impressed by the progress we have made so far.”
Eng Mzembi said Zimbabwe’s tourism sector was expected to register phenomenal growth following the call for peace by the principals in the inclusive Government.
“Though in a sombre mood, last week at the burial of Vice President Landa John Nkomo at the Heroes Acre, personally I was elated when our political principals sang in unison the clarion call for peace that ‘Peace begins with me, peace begins with you, and peace begins with us’.”
He said if peace prevailed before, during and after the elections, this would drive the country forward and promote the growth of sectors such as tourism that contribute significantly to economic growth.
Earlier, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive, Mr Karikoga Kaseke, said the country’s tourism industry had continued to experience a positive growth trajectory since the liberalisation of the economy.
He said the media played a critical role in the development of the sector.
“The tourism sector has of late been experiencing significant growth and the media has played a critical role in developing the industry.”
He said the statistics for tourism receipts and arrivals for 2012 were expected next month.
Online Reporter