Zimbabwe commemorates tourism month

Zimbabwe commemorates tourism month

Hosia Mviringi

The month of September was set aside to commemorate and to recognise the important role that the tourism sector plays in the world economy at large and to Zimbabwe in particular.
The commemorations provide a heightened month-long focus on the importance of the sector to the Zimbabwean economy. This year’s theme is, “Rethinking Tourism”.
Speaking in a recorded video clip, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Spokesperson Godfrey ‘Chief’ Koti emphasised the importance of celebrating the tourism sector in recognition of its contribution towards changing livelihoods it’s value to the economy.
“We want to unpack the theme and look at how tourism has managed to impact livelihoods out there. We are very excited as the tourism sector that there are many milestones we have achieved so far. But most important for us is to bring awareness on socio-economic issues that tourism is contributing so much to the country. We will be talking about resilience and sustainability as key pillars that anchor the sector,” said Koti.
The tourism sector has faced massive disruptions mainly from the effects of a two year long closure of the travel industry as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic that almost drove world economies to a stand-still.
Zimbabwe was not spared from the effects of the deadly virus which was first reported in China in August 2019, which quickly spread like veldt fire across the world.
“So as the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) we want to urge everyone across the country to recognise this month as a big month for tourism. We are happy and excited that we are back in business as a sector and we are looking forward to building the economy and the country, and hopefully building back bigger and stronger after this pandemic. Of course we are looking forward to having commemorative activities for the special month. We are therefore inviting all players in the tourism sector, all supporting industries, and everyone else in the country to join us as we recognise the important role this sector plays in the national economy,” he said in conclusion.

Tourism has been a big contributor to the national economy, contributing to employment creation and foreign currency earnings while boosting domestic consumption of local products. In 2019, the tourism sector accounted for 6.3 per cent of GDP, coming in with a cool US$1.3 billion. In addition, available data show that the sector accounted for 1.56 per cent of national employment in 2018, with around 100 000 jobs directly created and supported.
According to projections from Zimbabwe’s treasury, the tourism sector, which registered a total of 2,4 million international tourists last year, representing a 12 per cent increase in arrivals, is projected to reach a 20 percent increase in arrivals in the next two years.
World Tourism Day is commemorated on September 26 every year since 1980. The date marks the commemoration of the anniversary of the adoption of Statutes of the Organisation in 1970, paving the way for the establishment of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) IN 1975.