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Leonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
THE upcoming Routes Africa conference, to be hosted by Zimbabwe in Victoria Falls, is an opportunity for the country to market and redeem itself as a safe destination of choice, an official has said. Routes Zimbabwe projects director Joel Masuku said the country’s objective was to see the world’s main airlines flying to Zimbabwe.
“We have gone through everything in terms of accommodation and we are happy with progress so far. This is a meeting of key community leaders and should be a marketing tool for us as a country because we want international airlines to fly to Victoria Falls. We have put a lot of money into the project,” he said.
A team from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Civil Aviation Authority, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Air Zimbabwe among others, on Tuesday toured facilities around Victoria Falls checking for preparedness.
An official from Routes Africa, Melanie Page, is in the country for a three-day visit to assess progress made so far and is touring all projects linked to the June 22-24 conference to be held at Elephant Hills Hotel.
One of the projects is expansion of Victoria Falls International Airport where a 4km runway and new international terminal are being constructed at a cost of $150 million.
Masuku said the upgrading exercise should be complete by mid next year.
“We need to market the airport and country extensively and Routes Africa is one of the strategies. Melanie is here to check progress and recommend where there is need for attention,” he said.
Page said she was happy with the host’s preparedness.
“My visit is to finalise projects and check on developments and guide local teams in terms of planning. We are very happy with what has happened so far and this shows Zimbabwe is a safe destination in line with objectives of Routes Africa. I do not feel there are a lot of grey areas,” she said.
In a statement welcoming the Routes Africa official, Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu said the country was keen to promote regional connectivity.
“Our objectives include attracting major airline operators to use the three main international airports Harare, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and Victoria Falls, market Zimbabwe, particularly Victoria Falls to the world as an attractive and safe destination,” he said.
“We want to promote regional connectivity through airlines and tour operators, promote Zimbabwe’s cultural diversity and market the Victoria Falls Airport to major airline operators with wide bodied aircrafts ahead of its completion.”
Routes Africa brings together a wide range of aviation based companies and government representatives who wish to conduct business to, from and within the African region, and also draw interest from outside Africa.
About 400 delegates are expected at the event.
The country won the bid to host the event at last year’s edition in Kampala, Uganda.
Online Reporter