Zimbabwe will this week launch the official countdown to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly to be co-hosted with Zambia next year. The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the UNWTO and its ordinary sessions, held every two years, are attended by delegates from full and associate members, as well as representatives from the business council.
The next session will be held from August 24-29 next year in the resort towns of Victoria Falls and Livingstone, Zambia.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority spokesperson Mr Sugar Chagonda said the launch of the official countdown would be held on August 23 in Victoria Falls.
“As you know the UNWTO General Assembly will be starting next year on August 24, so we are going to be launching the official countdown, marking a year before the General Assembly begins,” he said.
Mr Chagonda could, however, not give more details of the launch, saying preparations were still in progress.
President Mugabe and his Zambian counterpart Michael Sata in May this year signed a hosting agreement in the presence of UNWTO secretary-general Mr Taleb Rifai in Victoria Falls.
The UNWTO office has since appointed President Mugabe and President Sata tourism ambassadors.
The two countries beat Russia, Turkey, Jordan and Qatar to co-host the event.
The prestigious event will bring together at least 186 countries to Victoria Falls, the largest world gathering of countries in Zimbabwe since the Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting that was held in the resort town two decades ago.
The event is expected to be the biggest endorsement of the newly launched “Zimbabwe: A World of Wonders” tourism brand, and give a big boost to the local hospitality industry. — New Ziana.