The much-anticipated Harare International Carnival that is run by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has once again been deferred. “The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority would like to advise all partners, stakeholders, the media and the general populace that after wide consultations it has been decided to defer the hosting of the Harare International Carnival. “The much…
Combining tourism and environment under one roof requires the creation of synergies to ensure a shared vision, and a team that will be united for the success of the new ministry of environment, tourism and hospitality industry. Speaking at her Ministry’s Strategic Plan in Mutare under the theme, “Towards a Prosperous and Empowered Upper Middle Income…
The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) has partnered with one of its newest Affiliate Members, real-world games developer Niantic, to enhance global tourism through the use of mobile augmented reality game experiences. UNWTO will collaborate with Niantic, creators of Pokémon GO and Ingress Prime, to curate unique campaigns around the world that will build awareness for…
By Tendai Makoni Modelling and forecasting of tourist arrivals at one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the Victoria Falls Rainforest, is critical to the tourism industry and economy of Zimbabwe. For a developing country like Zimbabwe, the tourism industry is a major contributor to the country’s economic growth as it…
Zimbabwe’s continued reengagement efforts with the international community have seen some positive waves within the tourism business circles. Japan’s top travel agents have responded positively to the call made by the of Environment, Tourism & Hospitality Industry Minister, Hon Prisca Mupfumira to visit Zimbabwe. The visit is a follow up to Zimbabwe’s participation at the…
The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)’s International Seminar on Harnessing Cultural Tourism through Innovation and Technology and 40th Affiliate Members Plenary Session concluded with a renewed call for community participation in development of cultural tourism using cutting-edge technologies (12-14 November 2018, Hamedan, Islamic Republic of Iran). Cultural and heritage attractions are key to tourism development in…
BY Miriam Zvomuya The Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe (TBCZ) has urged the government to stabilise prices so that business in travel and tourism remain functional. This emerged at a media briefing in Harare. Tich Hwingiwiri, thePresident of TBCZ described the past two months as a turbulent time for the economy. ”We have been affected…
Zimbabwe is seriously looking at intensifying its brand marketing in various source markets in line with its marketing strategy coined “Vision 2025 National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy.” This was said by Priscah Mupfumira, the Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry at the reception for stakeholders at the World Travel Market held in…
A new report from the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the European Travel Commission (ETC) shows that outbound tourism from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – comprising six countries of the Arabian peninsula – has grown strongly in recent years, with international tourism expenditure surpassing USD 60 billion in 2017. ‘The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)…
By Byron Mutingwende Chinese healthcare giant, Tiens Group, seeks to invest more in Zimbabwe following President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call for opening up the country to the international community, the company’s chairman, Li Jinyuan has said. “I met President Mnangagwa and he revealed to me that he wants to open Zimbabwe for both local and…
Zimbabwe is open for business – this was the strong message heard at the Invest Zimbabwe Forum held in London on Thursday. In her opening address, Hon. Priscah Mupfumira, Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry reminded investors that Zimbabwe is now open for business, and highlighted that the country has been rated a top…
The UNWTO/WTM Ministers’ Summit, held on Tuesday by World Travel Market and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), was well received by participants from government and the private sector for its more dynamic new format leading to more concrete takeaways around this year’s theme: Investment in Tourism Technology. This year, the UNWTO/WTM Ministers’ Summit held at…
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the tourism players are participating at the prestigious World Travel Market (WTM) being held at Excel in London, the UK from 5 – 7 November 2018. Speaking in an interview, the Chief Executive of the ZTA, Dr Karikoga…
The 2018 edition of World Travel Market (WTM) will see the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) continue its operational focus on investing in innovation and digital advances for a tourism sector that can deliver opportunities for all. UNWTO will co-host a Ministerial Summit and launch a white paper on the relationship between music and tourism at…
The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) concluded its 109th Executive Council session in Manama, Bahrain yesterday, with Members showing appreciation both for progress made under the 2018 institutional priorities and for the Organisation’s financial stability and restructuring process. Today, UNWTO will also introduce a forum named ‘Tourism Tech Adventure: Big Data Solutions, bringing together the ‘ecosystem’ of…
The timely intervention to clean up the City of Harare by the Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries led by Prophet Walter Magaya contributes to the cleanliness of the environment and promotes tourism, Priscah Mupfumira the Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry has said. “The responsibility for a clean, safe and healthy environment is…
Zimbabwe has been described as one of Africa’s safest destinations to visit in 2019 because its tourism has excited travel editors, researchers, locals and influencers. Because of that, according to Times Live, it made it to Lonely Planet’s list of Best Countries to visit in 2019. The publication said Zimbabwe also made the list,…
A collaborative team made up of like-minded tourism stakeholders has been established under a shared vision towards realisation of Vision 2030. The establishment of Team Tourism means stakeholders bring their expertise on one platform as opposed to operating in silos. Officially confirming the establishment of the team in Harare today, Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry…
The UNWTO Conference on City Breaks: Creating Innovative Tourism Experiences (15-16 October 2018) concluded today in Valladolid, Spain, with a call for cities to become smart tourism destinations, where tourism governance and the digital economy mesh together to offer travellers diverse and authentic experiences. The conference brought together tourism leaders from the public and private…
By Byron Mutingwende To ensure ecologically functional landscapes, there is need to facilitate the adoption of policies that promote conservation beyond boundaries of gazetted protected areas, Priscah Mupfumira, the minister of environment, tourism and hospitality industry has said. She made the remarks at the London Conference on Illegal Wildlife Trade held from 11 to 12…
Seeking to advance use of innovation and cutting-edge technologies into cultural tourism practices, destinations and products, the International Seminar on Harnessing Cultural Tourism through Innovation and Technology will be held in Hamedan, Iran alongside the 40th UNWTO Affiliate Members Plenary Session (12-14 November 2018). The seminar recognises the significance of innovation in managing and promoting…
By Byron Mutingwende Dr Karikoga Kaseke, the Chief Executive of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has all but confirmed the postponement of the much-anticipated Harare International Carnival for the second time in three months. “We postponed the carnival that was supposed to be held in July because of the elections on 30 July….
African Sevens attracts rugby fans from Europe and America Rugby sevens in Southern and East Africa has gained much-deserved momentum over the recent years and, with it, drawing in more and more spectators, many of whom are international tourists. According to Judy Lain, Wesgro’s Chief Marketing Officer, rugby sevens has definitely gained popularity over the…
Zimbabwe is set to welcome a thirty-five member diaspora delegation from the United Kingdom on Friday 5 October 2018. The visit which comes as a follow-up to the re-engagement mission to the United Kingdom by the Honourable Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality industry, Honourable P Mupfumira in March where she implored the need for…
Marriott International reveals Robust Expansion Plans across Africa: Expects to Increase Portfolio by 50 Percent with over 200 Hotels and 38,000 Rooms by 2023 From the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in Nairobi, Kenya, Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) (www.Marriott.com) today announced rapid expansion plans across Africa. Strong demand for select-service brands and conversion opportunities are driving…
World Tourism Day 2018 was observed in Budapest, Hungary on 27 September 2018 with the official celebration focusing on the digital transformation in tourism, a World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) priority. The event examined how investment in new technology provides the sector with opportunities for innovation. Introducing a new seminar-based format, the official celebration provided crucial…
Investment in innovation and smart management for tourism will form the major theme of the Ministerial Summit of this year’s World Travel Market, to be held in London, UK (6 November 2018). The 2018 Summit, a joint initiative of World Travel Market and the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), will debut a revamped format. This year’s…
Zimbabwe’s marine tourism especially along the Zambezi River has been upscaled as Vice President Retired General Constantino Chiwenga recently commissioned a luxurious boat called the African Dream in Kariba. The boat was reportedly built at a whopping $2,5 million dollars. Another luxury boat is set to be assembled in Zimbabwe beginning in October by engineering…
By Byron Mutingwende Governments are obligated to use tourism as a vehicle for employment creation to contribute to poverty alleviation in Africa, Vice President Kembo Mohadi has said. VP Mohadi made the remarks in his keynote address at the Africa Youth in Tourism Conference (19-23 September 2018) in Bulawayo. “We are obligated…
Innovation, traveller demand for diverse and authentic experiences in cities, and urban tourism governance models will be the central themes of the “UNWTO Conference on City Breaks: Creating Innovative Experiences”, to be held in Valladolid, Spain, on 15-16 October 2018. The conference will address the future of urban tourism, with special emphasis on current challenges,…
By Freedom Mutanda and Knowledge Mhlanga Makamera Preparations for the sixth edition of the annual Ndau Festival of the Arts that is held every year on 22 September to celebrate Cultural diversity and arts are at an advanced stage with several arrays of displays having been made at Paiyapo Arts Development and Heritage Centre in…
As is the custom, Zimbabwe will join the world in commemorating the World Tourism Day on the 27th of September every year, and dedicates the month of September to raise awareness of tourism by organising a number of activities for the month of September in a build-up to the main celebrations. In her brief to…
A new World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) report aims to help manage growing urban tourism flows and their impact on cities and residents. ‘Overtourism’? Understanding and managing urban tourism growth beyond perceptions’, was launched today during the 7th UNWTO Global Summit on Urban Tourism, in Seoul, Republic of Korea (16-19 September 2018). The report examines how…
The progress about preparations of the 2018 Harare International Carnival is impressive since stakeholders are now ready for the showcase. By Munyaradzi Dhure The Ministry of Environment Tourism and Hospitality Industry engaged with its marketing arm, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) to announce the progress of preparations for the fifth edition of the…
By Byron Mutingwende The wildlife conservation project being spearheaded by the Antelope Park is bringing numerous benefits to participating local communities and the environment. Tourists from the United Kingdom who were on a tour of the country prior, during and after the Sanganai Hlanganani Tourism Expo, courtesy of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, had…
By Byron Mutingwende The Sanganai Hlanganani World Tourism Expo fits the bill of and stands tall among internationally recognised exhibitions, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has said. In her speech at the expo awards ceremony in Bulawayo on 7 September 2018, tourism minister Priscah Mupfumira expressed her deepest satisfaction with the…
By Byron Mutingwende The Glen Lodge in Bulawayo, the leading oasis of hospitality in the City of Kings and Queens, is the only place that offers the greatest value for money to its legions of clients. As it hosted journalists attending the 11th edition of the Sanganai Hlanganani Tourism Expo in the country’s…
Qatar has become the most open country in the Middle East and the 8th most open in the world in terms of visa facilitation. The World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) recently updated its visa openness rankings, confirming Qatar’s recent visa facilitation improvements including allowing nationals of 88 countries to enter Qatar visa-free and free-of-charge. Actions Qatar…
By Byron Mutingwende Located in the leafy Newton suburb of Bulawayo, the Glen Lodge is the best place to get luxurious accommodation and tour services. The serene atmosphere at Glen Lodge gives clients value for money since place offers facilities that can cater for a maximum of 150 people at one go, with…
By Byron Mutingwende The government is committed to increasing funding support to tourism and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA)’s marketing and development programmes, Vice President Retired General Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said. The VP revealed this at the official opening of the 11th edition of the Sanganai Hlanganani Tourism Expo at the Zimbabwe…
International buyers in the country for the Sanganai Hlanganani World Tourism Expo have described Zimbabwe as a world class tourist destination that needs to correct a few issues to be on the right track. In an interview with Spiked Online Media, Stuart Forster, a journalist from the United Kingdom, singled out the Victoria Falls as…
By Byron Mutingwende The aggressive worldwide marketing of Destination Zimbabwe that is being spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has borne some low hanging fruits that the country is ready to devour in as far as economic revival is concerned. Riding on a wave of success due to the ZTA’s hardworking Chief…
By Elmond Bandauko (“Our impressions of a city are formed mainly by the quality of public spaces. If they are not pleasant and preserved, or if they transmit a sense of insecurity, we will seldom return. Good planning of these spaces should be the rule, not the exception”) Most urban residents in cities of the developing world…
By Hildah Sipono International buyers from key source markets have said Zimbabwe is sellable and buyable. The buyers arrived in Harare yesterday on a familiarisation tour ahead of the 11th edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel Expo scheduled for Bulawayo on September 6-8 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds. “People do not want to see…
Tourism transcends humankind and political affiliation across the borders and it unites nations and different cultures so it is the best conduit for peace, church leaders have said. “We thank Dr Karikoga Kaseke and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) for spearheading the Zimbabwe Peace Festival 2018. At the festival Christians united for the same purpose,…
