Zimbabwe Tourism versus Dutch Tourism

As arts people we are very much affected by how our countrya��s tourism performs.

In Zimbabwe we boast of one of the Seven Wonders of the World and we even have more to offer.

Our people with their kindness are part of tourism, think of the Great Zimbabwe, Matopo National Park, Khami Ruins, Gonarezhou National Park and Chinhoyi Caves to name a few places.

These places are amazing to say the least. Our biggest mistake as a nation is that when we say tourism we tend toA� think about foreigners only.

The tourism industry could benefit a lot from locals too. I know many Zimbabweans that have never been to the Victoria Falls or seen a live elephant.

Last week I saw how the Netherlands makes money with the little resources they have or what they have acquired.

My hosts took me to a safari park called Bergse Bergen, there you see all kinds of animals.

Most of them are from Africa. One elephant was from Zimbabwe but I have forgotten itsA� name. That was entertainment at the next level. By night the safari park ran something called Africa by Light which was a show off of lights really. I also had the opportunity to watch a laser show at the very same park. One will argue that back home we have Chipangali.

Yes, we do but ita��s not in your face. Those that know, know about it. Some may have heard of it, but still have never been to it. With Bergse Bergen I think everyone in the Netherlands knows about it or at least has been there. There are adverts about it all over; road signs that are inviting.

At the park one finds restaurants, a stage and curios stalls. I know we have the real thing in the many national parks around the country, but our people especially those in the tourism ministry and those governing our feeding ministry (arts and culture) and others such as Home Affairs are not helping the industry much.

The Netherlands is a tourist attraction for many even though they do not have as much resources as we have. The police are friendly and are there to save and serve as well a protect.

They will ask you. a�?Yes, sir how can I help? Oh yes, thata��s fine right this way sira�?.

They just come short of taking you where you want to goA� in their fancy cars. Come to my beautiful Zimbabwe, hehehhe, first we do not even think that locals are consumers of our tourist attractions.

And if we are not, ita��s because it has not been cultivated in us. Back to the police a�� local cops are a deterrent, ita��s like they are put there to convince you never to drive. Their rule number one is to make driving around a crime. How then do people access these places if they will lose hundreds in the process?

How do the preferred tourists even come back if they will be searched off of their hard earned money?

The streets of the Netherlands are decorated with sculpture. The kind that will make Dominic Benhura king in these lands.

We have many people like that in Zimbabwe. Imagine those art works all over the streets of Bulawayo a�� the works of Israel Israel and others?

We create our own tourism. I like that there are a few places in Bulawayo especially on the accommodation front that are doing that.

Decorating their places to world standards of tourism. Entertainment is in abundance, it could be our tourism, we need to be working hand in glove with Chipangali, Khami Ruins and Rhodesa�� Matopos.

Leta��s stop aiming for white tourists because domestic ones matter too.

Dutch tourism is better organised but we have better resources. Zimbabwe tourism can be great again. a�� Online .