Victoria Falls city status excites ZTA

13 Dec, 2020 - 00:12 0 Views
Victoria Falls city status excites ZTA Mr Godfrey Koti

The Sunday News

Nkosilathi Sibanda, Business Correspondent
TOURISM business activity is set for an all-time high in Victoria Falls as the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has mooted plans to boost the new city in the next five years.

The country’s sole tourism administrator is on course to cushion all tourism businesses entities in the resort city to take the lead in face-lifting Victoria Falls so that it meets up to the local and international tourist expectations.

As part of efforts to complement the Government’s move in conferring Victoria Falls as a city, ZTA said there was an urgent need for tourism to up its sleeve in turning around the industry’s fortunes.

Victoria Falls is considered as the country’s premier tourism destination, being the most sought after “go to” place that accounts for the highest earnings in tourist receipts.

President Mnangagwa officially declared Victoria Falls a city last week
ZTA spokesperson Mr Godfrey Koti told Sunday Business that “big plans” are afoot to make sure the tourism business plays a part.

He said the industry as a whole was elated by the Government’s decision that will place Victoria Falls at par with other world acclaimed tour resorts.

“It is indeed befitting given that this new city is our country’s premier tourism destination,” said Mr Koti.

“We are excited that Victoria Falls, the city, will now be able to compete with other destinations like Durban and Cape Town in South Africa.”

He said, ZTA is aware of the immense value that tourism has on the economy of the City of Victoria Falls.

“Without Victoria Falls there is no tourism to speak of. We are talking about the jewel of tourism that has enormous potential to raise a sound economy. The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority wants to help businesses in the sector to be at the forefront of that economy.

“Often times tourists shop for holiday or business destinations; they search for cities, instead of towns and municipalities. We are quite elated that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Comrade E.D.

Mnangagwa has conferred city status on Victoria Falls,” said Mr Koti.

ZTA, however, remains cautious of the need for authorities running the City of Victoria Falls to maintain the current environmental and nature conservation status so as to keep on luring tourism activity.

“There is a need for us to continue with the great work of the preservation of our sacred environmental and cultural heritage as Victoria Falls develops as a fully fledged city,” said Mr Koti.

Victoria Falls was proclaimed a city through Statutory Instrument (SI) 285 of 2020 in terms of the Urban Councils Act.

President Mnangagwa told the nation that with Victoria Falls being a city, it was ample evidence for all to see the Second Republic’s devolution agenda was bearing fruit.

Mr Sikhawuliso Sibanda, a member of the Tourism Business Council representing the southern region said if ZTA puts its words to practice, business players in tourism were to support all efforts to “make Victoria Falls great”.

“Businesses in tourism want support, nothing else. That support comes from enacting business friendly tax exemptions, financial boost, incentives and recognition. In that way we can make Victoria Falls great. We applaud the Government on making such a bold and noble move,” said Mr Sibanda.

In what will be seen as the most economical idea, Victoria Falls’ city status could explain the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO)’s “Tourism Towards 2030”.

The UNWTO says by 2030, the number of tourists in cities with heritage status will increase. The organisation believes the number of international tourists was set to increase by 3.3 percent between 2021 and 2030.

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