The Sunday News
From Roberta Katunga in Victoria Falls
INADEQUATE infrastructural development and maladministration in sport disciplines in the country have hampered sports tourism amid revelations that the Spanish national soccer team that was set to visit Zimbabwe in June has cancelled the visit. Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive officer Mr Karikoga Kaseke said this in Victoria Falls during a visit by the South Africa Rugby Team Legends (Springboks Legends) who were in the country since Thursday. He said the visit by the South African team meant a lot in terms of sports tourism although it exposed the country’s lack of infrastructure.
“We do not have the necessary infrastructure for us to be known as a sports tourism destination. It is very critical for our sporting events to prop up our destination because as it is we cannot be counted among sports tourism destinations,” said Mr Kaseke.
The SA Rugby Legends and Zimbabwe Rugby Legends match was played at Victoria Falls Primary School yesterday.
Mr Kaseke said it was imperative for Government to develop infrastructure in order to attract a lot of visitors and ensure that the tourism sector continued to grow.
He said although the country was doing its best with what was available, to be the preferred destination, international standards had to be met thus putting Zimbabwe at par with countries like South Africa that have world-class facilities.
“Right here in Victoria Falls, this primary school might have the best grounds for a match of this calibre but it is not necessarily the best that should be offered. A lot has to be done and infrastructural development is a priority,” Mr Kaseke said.
Mr Kaseke said besides inadequate infrastructure, another major impediment to sports tourism in the country was poor administration in certain sports like soccer that had actually painted a negative image of the country as a whole.
He said during ZTA’s visit to Spain at the beginning of the year, they had managed to hold talks with the Spanish national soccer team and Club Espanol who had shown interest in playing the Zimbabwe National Team and clubs like Dynamos and Highlanders.
“The perceptions that people have of our sport are important and you cannot have teams or associations that are always in the media for the wrong reasons. How do we attract visitors with such an image?
The Spanish national team was scheduled to come in June but with the ban of our national team, they have withdrawn as well,” he said.
Meanwhile, Africa Albida Tourism, who were the event’s Gold sponsor, which accommodated the SA Rugby Legends, said having the team in the resort town was a big boost for the community.
AAT chief executive Mr Ross Kennedy said the company was playing its part in building brand Victoria Falls and bringing more exposure for destination Zimbabwe.
“To have players of this calibre and experience visiting Victoria Falls is a real delight for the entire community, and especially the school where the game will be played.
“Some of these players are famed former Springboks and it is a privilege to welcome them, including of course their coach Ian McIntosh, one of Zimbabwe’s most famous rugby sons,” said Mr Kennedy.
The Zimbabwean Rugby legends team was accommodated at the Elephant Hills Resort Hotel with other tourism players in the town that included Wild Horizons, Blue Arrow coaches, and Into Africa and Mapopoma operators sponsoring the event.
Elephant Hills general manager and Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe Victoria Falls representative Mr Trythings Mutyandasvika said tourism in the resort town would continue to grow as more people visited and spread the word about the hospitality of Zimbabwe as well as all the activities and attractions that are available.
The rugby event also coincided with the Chinese delegation’s visit to the resort town on Friday. The delegation led by Chinese Minister of Defence General Wanquan Chang visited the resort town to have an appreciation of the country’s premier tourist destination.
