The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Business Reporter
THE Government, through the National Tourism Policy, is working towards ensuring that marginalised groups benefit from the proceeds accrued from the tourism sector as it moves to ensure equal distribution of resources among the country’s populace.
Speaking at a capacity building workshop for women entrepreneurs in tourism during the 12th edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Bulawayo yesterday Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) acting chief executive officer Mr Givemore Chidzidzi said the 2013 National Tourism Policy reinforces tourism as an important pillar for sustainable human development including poverty alleviation, employment generation, environment regeneration and advancement of women and other disadvantaged groups in Zimbabwe.
“As such, Government is paying more attention to the ways in which the benefits of tourism are distributed between men and women. The tourism sector definitely provides various entry points for women’s employment and opportunities for creating self-employment in small and medium-sized income generating activities, thus creating paths towards the elimination of poverty for women and local communities,” he said.
Mr Chidzidzi said it was pleasing to note that generally the contribution of women in the business world has increased in recent years, although women are under-represented in management and leadership positions.
“In Zimbabwe’s tourism sector, the percentage of women who work in the industry is high, but their function is dominated by unskilled, low-paid jobs. Government’s thrust is now to help build the capacity of women so that their emancipation into such higher ranks is actualised at a faster pace,” he said.
Mr Chidzidzi said efforts are also underway to ensure that women participation in tourism income generating activities increases across the board from community projects to large enterprises.
“To this end, women are being made aware of various income generating projects associated with tourism development. Ultimately actualisation of these projects will lead to the development of great women entrepreneurs and economically empowered families,” he said.
Mr Chidzidzi however, lamented the lack of capital and collateral as an impediment towards the emancipation and empowerment of women in economic activities.
“We are aware that women’s access to capital has been a major challenge towards women empowerment and participation in economic activities across all sectors, tourism included. This has been coupled by women’s limited or no access to collateral. This workshop is meant to provide a platform for the women entrepreneurs in tourism to get vast knowledge on how they can access funding for their various projects and the requirements thereof,” he said.
Mr Chidzidzi said tourism was one of the world’s largest and fastest growing industries.
“It is an engine for development, contributing to economic growth, poverty reduction and community development. In Zimbabwe tourism is one of the key economic drivers contributing 7,2 percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The sector is expected to contribute 15 percent to GDP and generate close to $2,5 billion in foreign currency receipts by 2025,” he said.
@DNsingo
