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Mr Hwingwiri

Rumbidzayi Zinyuke Mutare Bureau
PLAYERS in the hospitality industry in Manicaland have been urged to promote Nyanga as a major tourist destination by working together to come up with sustainable tourism strategies.

Speaking at the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe annual congress held in Nyanga last week, Zimbabwe Council for Tourism president Mr Tich Hwingwiri said focus had been on Victoria Falls as a destination, leaving other areas out.

“We have to understand that Victoria Falls is not Zimbabwe. We cannot focus on Victoria Falls alone. It is important that we start looking at Nyanga as a tourist destination,” he said.

“We have to make sure that we promote other destinations that are dying. The idea has always been that when people come to Victoria Falls, they can then extend their stay to other destinations. We have seen that if people fly into Victoria Falls, they tend to fly out without reaching other areas. The onus is on us to celebrate the big spectrum of Zimbabwe, not just what is happening in one destination.”

Mr Hwingwiri said Nyanga had some of the best scenic views and a lot of activities that tourists could take part in, adding that local tourism players should start comparing themselves with other destinations and make improvements where needed.

“Let us work together to make things better. We should cooperate even as we compete against each other. We need to co-exist on some issues to make sure we survive in this market,” he said.

Mr Hwingwiri said the industry needed a sustainable tourism plan that would ensure that developed strategies would work in future.

“Sustainable tourism is our responsibility as operators. Sustainability in tourism means what we have come up with today is also for the future. Let us have programmes that are more sustainable. Let us create a permanent culture of cleanliness and not wait to take part in one day clean-up campaigns,” he said.

Mr Hwingwiri said the new political dispensation would see an influx of tourists coming into the country, meaning more business for hoteliers. “As players, we need to change the perception of how we do business,” he said.

“Things are going to change for the better next year, but are we ready? Are we ready when those tourists come knocking on our doors? “Let us thrive to become better people now so that we will be available and ready for what the future brings.”

Permanent secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Dr Thokozile Chitepo said tourism industry stakeholders should work with Government to ensure success in the implementation of their strategies.

“We need to find a way to make sure that we are not sitting in the past and looking at things that we have failed. You, together with Government, need to find a way of working together. You must be sure that your priorities are the same as ours. As a sector, you need to come together and bring a checklist of things you want to achieve so that things can start happening,” she said.