Vice President Kembo Mohadi, who is also the acting President, has said that he is convinced that if the tourism sector is digitalised, the number of tourists arrivals into Zimbabwe can be surpassed at the opening of the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe’s 2018 Tourism Convention in Victoria Falls yesterday.
The Acting President said effectively utilising Information Communication Technologies will make Zimbabwe more competitive and create easier means by which travellers can find out about the country, make bookings for accommodation and enjoy the nation’s tourism products.
“The world has been made smaller and closer because of digitisation,” the Vice President said. “It is prudent therefore that this sector embraces these innovations yet without losing the identity of our unique culture and heritage.”
“It is the latter that makes Zimbabwe a unique tourist destination.”
The acting President also said that he is pleased to note that revenue in Victoria Falls is up by 20% while 18 new properties have been developed to date.
“It is pleasing to note that the tourism industry continues to recover as demonstrated by a total of 2,422,930 tourist arrivals in the year 2017, which represents a 12% increase from the 2,167,686 tourists received in 2016,” the Vice President said.
“Here in Victoria Falls alone, occupants for January and February 2018 also indicate a 22% and 24% increase respectively.”
“The positive effects of tourism in this country’s economy should include the growth and development of various industries directly linked to a healthy tourism industry such as transportation, construction, wildlife, creative and cultural industries,” the Acting President went on.
Vice President Kembo Mohadi also said that the government is committed for Zimbabwe to be an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
“We cannot achieve this vision with our thinking and actions stuck in the ways of the past.” Mohadi said.