$5bn tourism growth achievable — Mzembi Dr Mzembi
Minister Walter Mzembi

Minister Walter Mzembi

Elita Chikwati Senior Reporter
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi yesterday said he was optimistic that the sector would achieve the $5 billion tourism economy by 2020 despite the challenging economic conditions.

Speaking at a meeting with the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe’s newly appointed members at his offices in Harare, Dr Mzembi said the country should aim high and remain focused.

“As a ministry, we want to remain focused and stabilised. If we do not manage our assumptions, we risk regression. The tourism sector has become the cornerstone of Zimbabwe.

“We are optimistic and the source of the optimism is the growth we have registered since 2009. In February 2009, the sector used to perform below the $1 billion mark, but we have seen growth. This is the source of the positive spirit. We expect the sector to grow by $500 million every year.”

He said Zimbabwe would promote rapid growth of tourism through the “Know your Zimbabwe , Know your Country” campaign. The campaign involves promoting various forms of tourism that include schools tourism, religious tourism and cultural tourism among others.

The growth will also be realised through improvement of the pricing regime, visa regime, taxation and air traffic accessibility, leveraging on the statutory instrument allowing for free duty on tourism capital projects.

Dr Mzembi said South Africa had achieved $13 billion economy while Tanzania, which was similar to Zimbabwe was expecting a $16 billion economy by 2020.

“We will also achieve the growth through the new visa regime, we will open up Zimbabwe to other airlines but there will be security considerations. The opening of Zimbabwe as a destination calls for us to be highly alert,” he said.

He said there was need for the sector to resuscitate infrastructure including roads. He also emphasised on the need to modernise the Victoria Falls to increase income.

On climate change, Dr Mzembi said there was need for players in the sector to come up with sustainable energy sources.

“We should also look at the other side of climate. We should market our climate, peace and security. The UNWTO has convinced the United Nations to declare 2017 a year of sustainable tourism for development and we will take advantage of this development to put tourism development on the agenda of many regional and international meetings,” he said.

HAZ president, Mr George Manyumwa, said the industry valued the vision of Dr Mzembi to grow the sector to a $5 billion contribution towards the Gross Domestic Product by 2020.

“We also recognise tourism as a key pillar of economic revival, sustainability and social justice under Zim-Asset.

“The hospitality industry recommends that the SADC regional approach to multi destination marketing through the KAZA Uni-Visa pilot project should now be extended to the entire region to facilitate borderless travel which is urgent to increase business momentum,” he said.

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