False Ebola rumours threatening tourism sector

Early this year, Zimbabwe was honoured by being awarded an award for being Europe's best tourist destination by the European Council on Tourism and Trade (ECTT). This is quite significant for it is a reflection of a boom in the tourism sector that contributes substantially towards the fiscus. The influx of tourists increased dramatically after this recognition.

The outbreak of the ebola scourge in West Africa is causing instability all over the globe. Travellers are potential vectors, which can be used to transmit this deadly disease when they cross national frontiers.

All nation states are on high alert to detect any possible cases of ebola. Zimbabwe has not recorded any cases. However, as self-folly would have it, some irresponsible citizens have abdicated their responsibility to the nation by propagating and disseminating malicious rumours about the existence of ebola in the country.    Such rumours cause alarm and despondency, not to mention scaring potential tourists and investors who might be headed to Zimbabwe.
   
Tourism Minister, Mr Walter Mzembi, was saddened and rightly so by this level of irresponsibility by some citizens who generate false content and circulate it extensively as fact and he has made this known.

"Do not joke about ebola. Do not invite it when it is not here. Do not de-brand yourselves. Do not hate yourselves to the extent of where you invite curses which are not in your midst, and we had that unfortunate incident where people were passing this falsehood. The World Health Organisation cannot lie to you or to the travelling public," Minister Mzembi said.

 The Tourism ministry and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) officials have done us proud through their concerted efforts in building and marketing the Zimbabwe brand which had over the years been badly damaged by negative media reports. Zimbabwe's tourism sector had registered a decline in the last few years owing to the political, socio-economic environment in the last few years that had been precipitated by the country's fallout with the west. This had been compounded by the hostile international media attention. This current status took us a long period to achieve. In this period of glory, some misguided elements in our society seem heel bent on destroying this sparkling and glitter in the tourism sector.

Let us all participate actively in rallying behind the tourism sector in implementing an aggressive tourism marketing drive aimed at repositioning the country at regaining the lost market share instead of working like saboteurs. The country is aiming to penetrate new markets as well as improve its relations with the rest of the world.

Meanwhile, Mzembi has appealed to the local media to exercise restraint especially those that eek a living out of cobbling fiction and peddling it as fact. He feels, as much as any self-respecting citizen ought to, that scribes should practice responsible journalism to save the country from unnecessary misrepresentations.

The tourism industry is an export product consumed at source. In view of this, its growth is dependent on the need to ensure accessibility by improving both air and road connectivity. However the spread of false rumours about ebola disrupt the arrivals figures immensely.

In spite all odds, the record should be made straight that Zimbabwe is screening all arrivals at all entry points for ebola. So far no case of ebola has been detected.