Zimbabwe Tourism in Remarkable Recovery, Says Mzembi

Lovemore Chikova, allafrica.com

Mzembi image from article

Excerpt:

Zimbabwe's tourism is now leading in sectoral growth with a 11 percent contribution to Gross Domestic Product, displaying remarkable recovery, a Cabinet Minister has said. Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi was speaking during a session of the First World Conference on Tourism for Development held here titled: "Tourism for Peace". The conference, which ended yesterday, was officially opened by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and also addressed by Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi, who both emphasised the contribution of tourism to peace and development. ...

Minister Mzembi said the tourism industry was expected to play a major role in Zimbabwe's economy, with a vision to have a $5 billion tourism boom from five million arrivals, contributing 15 percent to GDP by 2020.

"So, tourism has been the most significant rapprochement and re-engagement tool for the Republic of Zimbabwe and it is now an acknowledged unifying force and a tool for public diplomacy and the economy has largely been stabilised by its receipts income, securing peace in the process," he said.

"Anything in a Government that is economically significant is enabled, facilitated and protected. We advanced tourism in Zimbabwe to a point where it is now a recognised economic pillar amongst three other pillars that include agriculture, mining and manufacturing," said Minister Mzembi. ...