Minister Rwodzi engages British Airlines; calls for AI in wildlife tourism

Zimbabwe's Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, has engaged with the British Airlines Networking Department in London to seek for the re-establishment of a direct London-Harare [flights] route whilst also announce the need to embrace artificial intelligence to boost wildlife tourism.

Speaking during the engagement meeting which took place on the sidelines of the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, Rwodzi emphasised that the re-establishment of a direct London-Harare route will be a strategic initiative to boost connectivity between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom.

"Reintroducing this route would provide more convenient travel options for tourists, business visitors, and Zimbabwean diasporans, thereby fostering greater accessibility and supporting Zimbabwe's tourism sector," Rwodzi said.

"This step aligns with the Second Republic's vision for economic growth and its goal to position Zimbabwe as a prime destination for international travel," Rwodzi added.

Meanwhile, Minister Rwodzi participated in the 18th Ministers’ Summit, which was held in partnership with UN Tourism and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).

Minister Rwodzi joined fellow tourism ministers and influential leaders to explore the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies in reshaping the travel and hospitality sectors.

She also emphasised Zimbabwe's heritage-focused approach to tourism while stressing the importance of human interaction where technology is essential to preserve an authentic cultural experience for tourists.

"I would also want to emphasise on the potential of AI in wildlife tourism, and therefore suggest that predictive algorithms could optimise wildlife sightings, with smart tour vehicles enhancing visitor experiences by timing wildlife viewings while preventing overcrowding," Rwodzi said.