ZTA awards set for Masvingo

annual National Tourism Awards ceremony to be held in the ancient city of Masvingo next month.
Masvingo’s Great Zimbabwe Hotel will play host to the awards, which will be part of the commemorations of this year’s World Tourism Day, being celebrated under the theme “Tourism Linking Cultures”, on September 27.
The nomination process has already begun and will run until August 31. The nomination deadline is premised on the need to give ample time for the adjudication system.
ZTA head public relations, events and protocol Mr Sugar Chagonda said the awards are meant to recognise the luminaries in the tourism and hospitality industry for their exceptional efforts and achievements this year in their respective fields.
“Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is happy with the resilience and determination shown by the players in the tourism and hospitality industry over the years which has seen them contributing significantly to the economy even under the unfavourable economic conditions,” said Mr Chagonda.
He said the National Tourism Awards are meant to recognise excellence and honour outstanding achievements.
They are held annually with the ultimate aim of promoting healthy competition within the tourism industry for sustainable development in the tourism sector.
It is the highest honour that can be bestowed on an individual or organisation in the tourism industry.
“Some of the objectives of these awards include acknowledging the services and duties carried out by the organisations and individuals in the industry as a whole.
“Strengthening tourism management and upgrading service standards among a host of other goals,” said Mr Chagonda.
The United Nations World Tourism Organisation determined theme for this year, “Tourism Linking Cultures”, wishes to highlight the importance of travelling.
Travelling leads to the meeting of different cultures of the world, especially in the present day world where more than 90 million people travel internationally, favoured thus by modern means of communication and lower associated costs.
In this way, tourism presents itself as “breaking down barriers across cultures and fostering tolerance, respect and mutual understanding”.