Re- Engagement Through Tourism In Zimbabwe

Please follow and like us:

By Lorraine Muwuya – Travel And Tourism Correspondent And Photo Journalist.

Harare, Zimbabwe. (News of The South) – A 12 member British media and travel delegation is in Zimbabwe for a week long tour at the invitation of the country’s tourism authority, ZTA.

This follows the visit to the UK by the minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Mrs Prisca Mupfumira in February where she invited the British to re – engage with Zimbabwe through tourism and joint ventures in the tourism and hospitality industry.

The media and travel experts delegation has already been to the world acclaimed heritage site of Great Zimbabwe in Masvingo and will tour the country’s second largest city Bulawayo, the largest game reserve Hwange National Park before visiting one of the worlds natural wonders, the majestic Mosi-oa- Tunya, the smoke that thunders Victoria Falls.

At the Great Zimbabwe monument the delegation was taken through the rich history of this heritage site which dates back to the 14th century and were marvelled by the genius stone architecture of the Rozvi empire who built this beautiful edifice.

The delegation consists of media people from some of the leading online tourism sites and travel experts. For Alex James of WordPress, this trip was a welcome escape from the western concrete jungles of European cities into the natural magic and beauty of nature.

“This is an opportunity to reconnect with nature and get to explore a culture we have been denied because of the sanctions on Zimbabwe. It is an opportunity to retell the story and get to reconnect with a country that has been off radar for a long time”, Alex James.

And for Kenyan journalist Julius Mbaluto , editor of Informer East Africa who is based in London, it is the optimism of the Zimbabwean people after the power transfer which fascinates him as it has done the rest of the world.

“I can sense the spirit of optimism in the people on the ground here. The western world is too busy with its own problems and its time for us Africans to sort our own problems and our interaction with the west must be based on mutual respect, fair trade and maximum respect.” Julius Mbaluto.
The delegation will tour Matopo Hills where they will have a visit to the grave of Cecil John Rhodes. In Victoria Falls they will have the experience of the sunset cruise on the Zambezi river and game drives among the many activities tourist can enjoy in the major resort town.

The government of Zimbabwe has taken the mantra of the president that Zimbabwe is open for business and has set reengagement through tourism as one of the main initiatives. The head of ZTA in London, Felicia Munjaidi who is leading the delegation says there will be more of such tours they are organising throughout Europe to Zimbabwe.

By: Lorraine Muwuya
Travel and Arts Photojournalist