By Beaven Dhliwayo.
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has designated 2017 as the International year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, a cabinet minister has said.
Briefing journalists in the capital on Monday, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Dr Walter Mzembi said this is in recognition of how critical a pillar tourism has become to the extent that it is now ranked the third global export earner after food stuffs and chemicals.
He said the UNWTO directed the launch of 2017 as the year of Sustainable Tourism for development as the sector now employs in excess of 300 million people worldwide.
“This sector now accounts for seven percent of international exports, 30 percent of global services exports and closed the year 2016 at 1.2 billion arrivals.
“Having started in 1950 at 25 million arrivals I am here to see a sector that can rival the exponential growth that has been registered by tourism over the last 65 years,” he said.
Dr Mzembi said the country wants to celebrate tourism as it is the third time in 50 years that tourism is getting that recognition, the first time being in 1967 when we celebrated it under the theme “Tourism and International Passport to Peace” and the year 2002 when we celebrated it as the year of Eco-tourism.
“Most countries in the world now that are members of the UNWTO have launched their programs to celebrate the year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
“Because we are a member we are obliged to join this and I wish to announce that on the 2nd of June 2017 at the Harare International Conference Centre, the honorable vice president of Zimbabwe, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is the supervising vice president of this ministry will have the pleasure on behalf of His Excellency to launch this International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.
“And because we are a member we are obliged to observe five key themes that will run with this year including Inclusive and Sustainable Growth, and the second being Social Inclusiveness Employment and Poverty Reduction, followed by Resource Efficiency, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, the fourth being Cultural values, dignity and Heritage and the fifth pillar of celebration will be Mutual Understanding, Peace and security.
He added that, “We believe the commemorations will foster a change in policies, business practices and consumer behavior towards a more sustainable approach that can effectively contribute to the achievement of the social development goal.
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