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Rutendo Rori Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe has signed the International Sustainable Tourism Eliminating Poverty (STEP) agreement in South Korea along with 38 other countries. Tourism and Hospitality Industry Deputy Minister Ananstancia Ndlovu said the STEP agreement would create more opportunities for the country in achieving sustainable development goals.
“After the signing it is important that Zimbabwe moves with speed in ratifying the agreement as required by our supreme law as STEP creates yet another window of opportunities for Zimbabwe to not only achieve social transformation goals set in by Zim-Asset, but even more importantly the sustainable development goals,” she said.
She said Zimbabwe will benefit from the step organisation through capacity building for women and youth development in the tourism sector.
“By becoming a member, Zimbabwe will also benefit from the STEP organisation through support for development of policy programmes and interventions that are inclusive, pro-poor and reach out to local communities.
“The country will also benefit through financial and technical support to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism sector, including Community Based Tourism Enterprises (CBTEs).”
The country was given approval to join the STEP organisation after meeting all the legal and constitutional requirements.
The STEP agreement was signed in the presence of the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Secretary-General, Mr Taleb Rifai.
The STEP organisation is the successor to the STEP foundation which was established in 2004 under the UNWTO, tasked with harnessing the power of tourism to generate new opportunities in developing and least developed countries, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Zimbabwe’s tourism sector has been negatively impacted by the dollar-rand exchange rate disparity.
The continued weakening of the South African rand has made Zimbabwe a more expensive destination resulting in loss of visitors from that market.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Muzembi recently said the greenback-rand exchange rate has made Zimbabwe uncompetitive as a destination.
Online Reporter