By Martin Muleya
HARARE, Zimbabwe (News Of The South) -The Government of Zimbabwe is scaling up efforts to rehabilitate and modernise airport infrastructure and road networks connecting tourists resorts.
Addressing the Chinese Delegation yesterday (Thursday), that comprised of tourists, potential investors, tourism buyers and members of the media from the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa said China and Zimbabwe enjoy excellent relations that have become a springboard for immense business and investment opportunities across all sectors including the tourism sector.
He said under his able administration, government had adopted various strategies to ensure sustainable long term growth of the tourism sector which will see tourists from all over the world using Zimbabwe as a gateway to other tourist destinations in the Southern African Region.
“China and Zimbabwe enjoy excellent relations which have been further consolidated following the elevation of our relations to that of Comprehensive, Strategic Cooperation and Partnership. This status of the relations between our two countries has provided immense business and investment opportunities across all sectors including the tourism sector.
“Government is also scaling up efforts to rehabilitate and modernise airport infrastructure as well as road networks connecting tourist resorts. To that end, the Belt and Road Initiative being spearheaded by His Excellency President XI, will go a long way in enhancing interconnectivity within countries to facilitate not only trade but also tourism and people to people exchanges. Hence tourists can use Zimbabwe as a gateway to other tourist destinations in the Southern African region, said President Mnangagwa.
He paid tribute to the President of Touchroad International Holdings Group, Mr He Liehui who organized the tour dubbed “Tour Africa- the New Horizon” Tourism Project.
President Mnangagwa highlighted that the visit by the Delegation followed a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Touch road International Holdings and the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality during his State visit to China last year.
He noted that the MOU between the two countries was set to boost Zimbabwe’s tourist arrivals while at the same time expanding and diversifying Zimbabwe’s source markets.
He however reiterated that his Government had adopted various strategies to ensure sustainable long term growth of the tourism sector adding that Zimbabwe had received international recognition and endorsements as a safe and must visit destination.
“My Government has adopted various strategies to ensure sustainable long term growth of the tourism sector. These include tourist arrivals and promoting investment in various tourism related infrastructure.
“Our country’s tourism sector has received international recognition and endorsements, which saw us being nominated as the 3rd Best in Travel in the World, and we were among the Top-Ten must visit destinations and chosen the Sustainable Destination of the year during the ITB Berlin Travel Show,” added Pres Mnangagwa.
He assured the Delegation that his administration was working on introducing a number of incentives like the declaration of Tourism Special Economic Zones covering Victoria Falls, Binga and Kariba as well as liberalising duty on the importation of tourism capital goods, safaris and luxury tourism vehicles as a way of promoting investment in the sector.
Zimbabwe is a host of tourist attractions ranging from natural to man-made historic sites. These include the majestic Victoria Falls, Lake Kariba, the Great Zimbabwe National Monuments, Scenic Eastern Highlands, Matopo Hills and Wildlife National Parks, among others.
The Chinese Delegation has toured Djibouti and Tanzania already, with Zimbabwe being the final destination.
Comments
About Author
