Maravi

(HERALD) ‘ZTA must promote Great Zimbabwe’

‘ZTA must promote Great Zimbabwe’
By Dyton Mupawaenda recently in Masvingo

TOURISM operators and other stakeholders in Masvingo voiced their concern to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority saying that little has been done to promote Great Zimbabwe as the country’s number one historical tourist destination.

The operators registered their dismay last week during the launch of the Sanganai Travel and Tourism Africa Travel Fair road show where many said Masvingo was being denied the respect it deserves.

Masvingo town clerk Mr Adolf Guzha said there was so much historic significance in Masvingo and described the city as home to every Zimbabwean hence the need for recognition and vigorous marketing.

"The City of Masvingo is the ‘emotional home of every Zimbabwean’ and the destination where the country’s name is derived from but the focus has not been in favour of Masvingo but on destinations like the Victoria Falls.

"We want Masvingo to be the number one destination in Zimbabwe and we are proud to say that Great Zimbabwe is the only tourist attraction that is 100 percent owned by Zimbabwe," said Mr Guzha.

He also said that the world needs to know about Great Zimbabwe and urged tourism operators in Masvingo to use the Sanganai Exhibition to profile and properly position Masvingo as a leading destination not only in Zimbabwe but also in the world.

Zimbabwe Council for Tourism board member, Mr Fredrick Kasese welcomed the gesture by ZTA to launch Sanganai in all provinces of the country saying this showed the confidence the authority had in stakeholders in the industry.

Kasese said he was also concerned about mobilising people so that there could be a remodification of the thought process about Zimbabwe.

However, Masvingo tourism stakeholders and other associated players urged ZTA to engage hoteliers in Bulawayo not to make a killing out of them by charging exorbitant accommodation rates during Sanganai Travel and Tourism Africa Travel Fair for them not to experience the same problems like they faced during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in April.

In April, cases of high levies on those attending the ZITF were reported and ZTA and the National Incomes and Pricing Commission pounced on those who were charging high rates.

The high rates were reported to have

dampened the attendance of the annual trade fair and tourism operators pleaded with ZTA to engage Bulawayo players over accommodation rates.

Mr Givemore Chidzidzi, ZTA executive director for destination marketing assured the players that there were not going to experience the problems faced by those who attended ZITF.

"We can assure you that there is not going to be that kind of problem we experienced in April when hoteliers were charging exorbitant rates and we have already talked to them.

"Sanganai being a tourism event with many international buyers and exhibitors coming we have made sure that we do not have the same kind of problem," said Mr Chidzidzi.

He also challenged Masvingo to come and support Sanganai by coming in numbers and in full force and exploit the opportunity to market Masvingo as the prime Zimbabwean destination.

Labels: GREAT ZIMBABWE, TOURISM, ZIMBABWE, ZTA

posted by MrK @ 6:44 PM