News / National
Carnival set to improve tourism arrivals
23 Mar 2013 at 22:12hrs | Views
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) says the carnival set to be held in Harare in May will improve tourism arrivals from different parts of the world and boost revenue inflows.
A carnival is a period of public revelry, partying and festivities for a common purpose at a regular time each year. Its merry-making and feasting is designed to bring many people together. ZTA chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke said carnivals of a similar nature have helped enhance tourist arrivals in countries such as Brazil, Seychelles and South Africa.
Speaking during the official opening of the Zimbabwe International Carnival training workshop conducted in the capital by Brazilian officials last week, Mr Kaseke said such events had to be embraced as they offered great benefits.
He pointed out that through the carnival the tourism and hospitality sector was set to realise increased revenue inflows.
"In our view, this will boost tourism in our country. Carnivals do have numerous downstream social and economic benefits. Let me give an example of Brazil, the country we have chosen to be our mentor, when they host their carnival in Sao Paulo, it is five nights of parades for almost 120 000 people and the city hosts about 30 000 tourists, generating approximately US$256 million income," he said.
Apart from revenue generation, the ZTA official pointed out that the events help create jobs. "It is said that the carnival in Brazil creates almost 25 000 direct and indirect jobs in 52 economic sectors," he added.
ZTA head of corporate affairs Mr Sugar Chagonda said the carnival was a good marketing tool for the country, which has over the years suffered from negative publicity by the international media.
"Since a number of countries are coming to this carnival, it would be a great opportunity for us to market our destination. That is the reason why we have decided to take some of the participants to visit the mighty Victoria Falls as part of the carnivals programme," he said. Mr Chagonda could, however, not reveal how much the country was expecting to generate through the event.
"This is our first time hosting such an event and I must say it is difficult to tell how much will be generated. What I'm sure of is jobs both direct and indirect will be created. Also, the country will get an opportunity to market different tourism products," he said, adding, "but next year when we host the same event, we will be in a position to estimate the amount of revenue that we can generate."
The carnival, which has been slated for May 21 to 26 this year, has already attracted interest from a number of countries, with more than 12 countries having already confirmed their participation.
Registration and participation in the event is free and also there are no restrictions in the number of participants.
Carnivals are a new concept being used by ZTA to develop, promote and market the country's tourist attractions, as well as unite people from different spheres of life.
They make cities and remote country villages popular cultural tourism destinations.
A carnival is a period of public revelry, partying and festivities for a common purpose at a regular time each year. Its merry-making and feasting is designed to bring many people together. ZTA chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke said carnivals of a similar nature have helped enhance tourist arrivals in countries such as Brazil, Seychelles and South Africa.
Speaking during the official opening of the Zimbabwe International Carnival training workshop conducted in the capital by Brazilian officials last week, Mr Kaseke said such events had to be embraced as they offered great benefits.
He pointed out that through the carnival the tourism and hospitality sector was set to realise increased revenue inflows.
"In our view, this will boost tourism in our country. Carnivals do have numerous downstream social and economic benefits. Let me give an example of Brazil, the country we have chosen to be our mentor, when they host their carnival in Sao Paulo, it is five nights of parades for almost 120 000 people and the city hosts about 30 000 tourists, generating approximately US$256 million income," he said.
Apart from revenue generation, the ZTA official pointed out that the events help create jobs. "It is said that the carnival in Brazil creates almost 25 000 direct and indirect jobs in 52 economic sectors," he added.
ZTA head of corporate affairs Mr Sugar Chagonda said the carnival was a good marketing tool for the country, which has over the years suffered from negative publicity by the international media.
"Since a number of countries are coming to this carnival, it would be a great opportunity for us to market our destination. That is the reason why we have decided to take some of the participants to visit the mighty Victoria Falls as part of the carnivals programme," he said. Mr Chagonda could, however, not reveal how much the country was expecting to generate through the event.
"This is our first time hosting such an event and I must say it is difficult to tell how much will be generated. What I'm sure of is jobs both direct and indirect will be created. Also, the country will get an opportunity to market different tourism products," he said, adding, "but next year when we host the same event, we will be in a position to estimate the amount of revenue that we can generate."
The carnival, which has been slated for May 21 to 26 this year, has already attracted interest from a number of countries, with more than 12 countries having already confirmed their participation.
Registration and participation in the event is free and also there are no restrictions in the number of participants.
Carnivals are a new concept being used by ZTA to develop, promote and market the country's tourist attractions, as well as unite people from different spheres of life.
They make cities and remote country villages popular cultural tourism destinations.
Source - SM
