Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Scoops 3 awards
EFFORTS by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to market Zimbabwe as a favourable tourism destination are bearing fruit, with the ZTA scooping three awards from South Africa-based research firm PMR Africa.
At an awards ceremony held in Harare yesterday, the tourism parastatal won the award for "companies or institutions doing the most to enhance tourism and conservation".
ZTA also collected an award for Victoria Falls that was voted as an outstanding "exciting/interesting/ historical sites/buildings".
The tourism outfit also collected the second prize in the same category, which went to the Great Zimbabwe Museum.
Commenting on the awards, ZTA head of public relations, events and protocol Mr Sugar Chagonda said:
"The awards are an acknowledgement of the efforts we are making as an organisation to market the country as a top tourism destination.
"They also reflect the positive contribution that is coming in from the various tourism players in the country."
The ZTA has been receiving recognition within the region and internationally for its initiatives, which have contributed to the recovery of the country's tourism sector.
Greater tourism destination marketing initiatives are required if the country is to meet the sector's targeted 15 percent contribution to the Gross Domestic Product by 2015.
Meanwhile, other companies recognised for their positive contribution include Deloitte & Touche, Alliance Media, Irvine's Zimbabwe, CBZ Bank, Meikles Hotels, Nissan Clover Leaf, Croco Motors, DHL, National University of Science and Technology, Kingdom Bank and Delta Corporation.
Other award winners were National Foods, Dube Manikai and Hwacha Legal Practitioners, Mimosa Mining Company, Zimbabwe Platinum Holdings, the Kipps Group, WestEnd Medicare, TelOne, CVPeopleAfrica, and Glen's Removal & Storage.
PMR Africa chief executive officer Mr Johan Hattingh said the Zimbabwe survey was aimed at recognising the country's corporate "leaders and achievers".
"The category achievers are rated on their contribution to the economic growth and economic development of Zimbabwe," said Mr Hattingh.
"The awards set a benchmark for industry and a goal for others to aspire to."
The firm carries out a number of country surveys in the Southern Africa region.
According to PMR Africa, the awards are the "culmination of a research process whereby companies and institutions are rated based on respondents' perceptions with a strong focus on evaluating and measuring customer service and customer satisfaction".
