Zim, Zambia sign MoU to host tourism assembly

Zimbabwe and Zambia won the right to co-host the event at the 19th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in South Korea last year.
The 20th session will be held in Victoria Falls and Livingstone.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Permanent Secretary, Dr Sylvester Maunganidze together with his Zambian counterpart from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism, Ambassador Peter Kasanda, signed the MoU at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge at the end of the third session of the Zimbabwe-Zambia joint technical committee.
Dr Maunganidze said the co-hosting of the event by Zimbabwe and Zambia was a shining example of brotherly co-operation.
“Victoria Falls plays an important history. It is here where the first president of an independent Zambia, Kenneth Kaunda, first made attempts to bring peace to the country followed by the signing ceremony at the Victoria Falls Bridge. Now that we are free we are doing it at this hotel which we are going to showcase to the world,” he said.
Ambassador Kasanda said the UNWTO GA was an important event that would help market the two destinations to the world.
“Our countries share a lot, we share a common vibrant socio-economic value and God gave us the Zambezi River and the mighty Victoria Falls. So the finalisation and the signing of the document will help the tourism sector to ensure continuity in celebrations as we work towards hosting the event,” he said.
Zimbabwe will seek to draw significant mileage through portraying a positive image and its suitability as a premier foreign investment destination by putting in place measures to ensure optimal attendance by most, if not all, 186 members of the international tourism grouping.
The country will play host to the official opening ceremony of the general assembly and will need to display the highest level of organisation and positive image since the entire world will be watching.
This comes amid expectations that over 400 international businesses would attend the global event with a view to seek investment opportunities available in the country.
The businesses are also expected to pay a courtesy call on State Presidents of the host countries.
Before the two countries host the UNWTO convention, technical teams from the organisation’s headquarters in Spain will visit the country at least five times to inspect preparations before the event.