Zimbabve uzņems Panāfrikas tūrisma konferenci

Harare — Zimbabwe will next month host a Pan African Tourism Investment Conference in Harare aimed at building regional investment and marketing synergies ahead of the 2010 World Cup soccer finals to be held in South Africa next year.

The conference will bring together private investors with significant investment projects, subject to regulatory challenges, to debate practical solutions to advance those challenges in partnership with donors, the African Union, Nepad, REC’s and African policy makers.

Through facilitated discussions the conference will look at sector specific and regional investment projects that can support Zimbabwe in particular and Africa in general, in job creation, regional integration and enhance competitiveness as an investment destination.

At least 40 countries have confirmed attendance to the conference that will be held at the Harare International Conference Centre from June 22 to 25.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi yesterday said after the formation of the inclusive Government and the removal of

travel warnings there has been a “scramble for Zimbabwe” which needs to be coordinated.

“We have organised a Pan African tourism investment conference for HICC from June 22 to 25.

“After the inclusive Government and the removal of travel warnings, there is literary a scramble for Zimbabwe from Europe to Asia and Africa so we need a co-ordinated and strategic approach.

“This conference will help us come up with strategies and regional synergies to market not only our tourism packages but our business in its broad totality,” said Minister Mzembi.

He said the Government and the private sector in Zimbabwe should take advantage of that conference and come up with serious regional takers for projects that should help in economic revival.

“I have said I will not rest. I have said ZTA will not rest. I should never be in office until things are right. So we are going to run around arranging everything for a successful Zimbabwe.

“Everyone from Government to private sector should come up with strategies on how to tap the regional and Pan African aspect of the markets that is crucial for the revival of our economy.

“Tourism is the face of Zimbabwe and we should come up with strategies that help us market what we have together with what is available in the region,” he said.