The Sunday News
ZIMBABWE says it will invest in infrastructure for the holding of international events and major conferences as the country gears for Mice tourism.
Mice is the acronym for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions events.
According to the National Tourism Policy that was launched on Thursday last week, the country could soon be having new Mice facilities.
“The Government will invest in and support the development of new Mice facilities and upgrading of existing ones,” reads the policy.
In August last year, Zimbabwe successfully played host to the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly in Victoria Falls.
Industry Minister Walter Mzembi believes that the country is well-placed to claim a stake of the global Mice market.
Statistics show that the total global Mice market is more than $270 billion and that output from this form of tourism accounts for one percent of the world’s gross domestic product.
Mice event locations are normally bid on by specialised convention bureaux in particular countries and cities and established for the purpose of bidding on Mice activities.
This process of marketing and bidding is normally conducted well in advance of the event, often several years, as securing major events can benefit the local economy of the host city or country.
To this extent, the country will also be establishing a National Conventions Bureau.
“The Government will establish a National Conventions Bureau to lobby for regional and international conferences and will facilitate and support initiatives to host conferences in Zimbabwe,” says the National Tourism Policy.
Zimbabwe expects tourism arrivals to reach 2,5 million by year end, and expects arrivals to rise to 3,2 million next year.
Although the tourism policy has been launched, the Ministry of Tourism is yet to promulgate an implementation matrix for the policy.
According to Minister Mzembi, this will come in the form of a Strategic Implementation Plan which will clearly articulate how the policy pronouncements will be translated into action plans incorporating specific timelines and appropriate responsibilities. — BH24
