Opinion / Columnist
Zimbabwe a tourist attraction country
29 May 2018 at 14:29hrs | Views
Zimbabwe is a colourful country endowed with so much natural beauty in its flora and fauna. This makes it a centre of attraction to tourists around the world. Hence, President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government is making deliberate efforts to market the country to the outside world.
The old government under the leadership of Mugabe made Zimbabwe a pariah state thereby hindering tourism in the country because people from other countries were afraid to come to Zimbabwe. The new dispensation is focusing on policy reforms that attracts international investors. President Mnangagwa made trips to different countries instilling confidence in the product "Zimbabwe" and propagated the mantra "Zimbabwe is open for business". This approach has seen an increase in tourists' arrivals boosting the economy by bringing in the much needed foreign currency.
Zimbabwe has several tourist attractions, located in the North West of the country. The Victoria Falls National Park is a major tourist attraction in this area and is one of the eight main national parks in Zimbabwe. The Minister of State for Matabeleland North and Provincial Affairs, Ambassador Cain Mathema during the East and Central African Social Security Association (ECASSA) welcome dinner in the resort town of Victoria Falls reiterated that, his own province is open for business in tourism, mining, and agriculture. Matabeleland North province has various investment opportunities including mining, tourism and water infrastructure which is lure to investors and tourists.
Indeed, Zimbabwe is a world of wonders. The Eastern Highlands has a series of mountainous areas near the border with Mozambique. Mount Inyangani the highest mountain in Zimbabwe is at 2 593 metres. The people from Mozambique often pay visit to see this mountain thereby increasing Zimbabwe's revenue. Zimbabwe faced a decline in tourist arrivals in 2008 due to political instability, economic recession and negative media publicity. Tourism in Zimbabwe tourism has the potential to immensely contribute to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira said that the international community is helping in the ongoing efforts to revive the tourism industry. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has also pledged to back the ongoing identification and enshrinement of Zimbabwe's cultural and historical sites to help revive the tourism sector which has potential to be one of the key pillars of the country's economy.
Tourism's economic significance gives the industry greater respect amongst the business community, public officials and the public in general. Zimbabweans also have to support tourism as its benefits can be felt by entire communities. Economic benefits and costs of tourism reach virtually everyone in the region in one way or the other. The most direct effects of tourism occur within the primary tourism sectors in the form of lodgings, restaurants, transportation, amusements, and retail trade.
President E.D Mnangagwa is proving to the world that Zimbabwe is open for business and that the politics in the country should not override economy growth. Tourism is important for economic development through its effects on employment, exports, stimulation of infrastructure provision and generation of tax income.
The old government under the leadership of Mugabe made Zimbabwe a pariah state thereby hindering tourism in the country because people from other countries were afraid to come to Zimbabwe. The new dispensation is focusing on policy reforms that attracts international investors. President Mnangagwa made trips to different countries instilling confidence in the product "Zimbabwe" and propagated the mantra "Zimbabwe is open for business". This approach has seen an increase in tourists' arrivals boosting the economy by bringing in the much needed foreign currency.
Zimbabwe has several tourist attractions, located in the North West of the country. The Victoria Falls National Park is a major tourist attraction in this area and is one of the eight main national parks in Zimbabwe. The Minister of State for Matabeleland North and Provincial Affairs, Ambassador Cain Mathema during the East and Central African Social Security Association (ECASSA) welcome dinner in the resort town of Victoria Falls reiterated that, his own province is open for business in tourism, mining, and agriculture. Matabeleland North province has various investment opportunities including mining, tourism and water infrastructure which is lure to investors and tourists.
Tourism's economic significance gives the industry greater respect amongst the business community, public officials and the public in general. Zimbabweans also have to support tourism as its benefits can be felt by entire communities. Economic benefits and costs of tourism reach virtually everyone in the region in one way or the other. The most direct effects of tourism occur within the primary tourism sectors in the form of lodgings, restaurants, transportation, amusements, and retail trade.
President E.D Mnangagwa is proving to the world that Zimbabwe is open for business and that the politics in the country should not override economy growth. Tourism is important for economic development through its effects on employment, exports, stimulation of infrastructure provision and generation of tax income.
Source - Rudo Saungweme
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