ZIMBABWE has launched the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development (IYSTD) under the theme ‘Travel, Enjoy, Respect’ amid calls by tourism players to remove impediments that make the destination inaccessible.
The country was recently graded ‘most expensive destination’ by visitors, making their return to Zimbabwe impossible.
And the contentious issue of ‘excessive roadblocks’ has been also brought to the fore.
Zimbabwe repositioned its brand from ‘Africa’s Paradise’ to ‘A World of Wonders’ as part of efforts to change the negative perception that the world had after it embarked on the Land Reform Programme which saw over 400 000 black households gaining access to arable land.
Previously about 4 000 white commercial farmers grew crops on the land they acquired through colonisation.
Speaking at the launch in Harare this week, Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa said sustainable tourism development is a relatively new global phenomenon and development strategy that seeks to deliver benefits for eternity without damaging the natural and socio-cultural resources that each country on the globe is endowed with and upon which tourism depends.
On roadblocks, the Vice-President said he was aware the issue had been raised by a number of tourists.
“As Government, we remain committed to the free movement of tourists and the need to ensure their safety,” said VP Mnangagwa.
“I therefore urge the two ministers of Home Affairs and Tourism to sit down together under one roof and further determine how the need for safety and movement of tourists can be guaranteed. “I also want to commend the ZRP, the visiting public and tourists, especially in the Victoria Falls area, for their co-operation.”
The Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Eng Walter Mzembi, said the heavy presence of the ZRP on the country’s roads intimidates tourists.
“Of the visitors, 43,3 percent said they felt harassed by the police roadblocks, 31,1 percent cited poor infrastructure and other facilities and 22,2 percent of the sample cited poor quality services, 14, 7 percent felt they were harassed by customs and ZIMRA and 8,7 percent said they felt harassed by Immigration officers,” said Eng Mzembi.
“The only good news is that only 6,5 percent felt they would not come again because the people are not friendly.”
UN representative Dr Peggy Oti Boateng highlighted the potential that tourism had in transforming the lives of ordinary citizens.
“Tourism brings people to places they’ve never travelled, encouraging cross-cultural understanding and bringing business to those places,” she said.
“Done the right way, sustainable tourism will make the world a better place.
“With eco-tourism and other forms of ‘responsible’ travel on the rise, this provides Zimbabwe and its partners the opportunity to reflect and consider some salient reasons sustainable tourism may offer a chance to make a difference in the living standards of many Zimbabweans.”
She, however, noted with concern high environmental degradation.
“With the pace at which environmental degradation and depletion of natural resources is happening, the adage of: ‘Grow today, clean up later’ can no longer stand,” she said.
“The time when we could put off difficult choices is over.
“There is no room for short path development.
“As such we must be vigilant in protecting the environment to preserve Zimbabwe’s heritage to the next generation while ensuring the country becomes a preferred tourist destination and achieves its national plan of earning US$5 billion by 2020 from US$1 billion in 2015.”
Tourism represents nearly 10 percent of the world’s GDP and 30 percent of global services exports.
Tourism generates one in 11 jobs in the world.
The UNWTO reports arrivals into Africa increased by more than eight percent from 53,8 million in 2015 to 58,2 million in 2016.
Sustainable tourism is anticipated to have a 25 percent global growth for the next five years worth US$200 billion per annum.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA)’s 2016 Tourism Trends and Statistics Report shows that the country last year had a total of 2 167 686 visitors and earned US$819 million in receipts.
In that year, tourism contributed 10,9 percent to the GDP, 4,3 percent to capital investment and 7,3 percent to employment.
Harare Mayor Benard Manyenyeni urged Harare residents to keep the city clean in order to attract more visitors.
“We have many places of natural wonders within a 50km radius,” he said.
“Indeed, Harare is a tourism hub.
“It is important to spread the message and raise awareness of sustainable tourism as an important pillar for economic development.
“We must portray the right image and project the right message so as to arouse curiosity and capture the attention of the public.
“Sustainability is for and about the ordinary people.
“It is about societal gain; it is about continuity of those gains into the future.
“It is an open secret that visitors across the globe are looking for destinations that are eco-friendly and welcoming.”
Zimbabwe boasts many tourist attractions which include the majestic Victoria Falls, Matopo Hills, Mana Pools, Chinhoyi Caves and Nyanga Mountains, among others.