The United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly, jointly hosted by Zambia and Zimbabawe, was officially opened on Sunday evening at the Victoria Falls Hotel. The assembly is the best attended on record, with hotels and lodges on both sides of the river fully booked for the duration of the event.
President Mugabe and his Zambian counterpart Mr Michael Sata committed themselves to the use of tourism to drive economic growth in the two countries and challenged African countries to open up borders through the introduction of regional univisa or visa free regimes. The call by the two Heads of State and Government came as United Nations World Tourism Organisation Secretary General Mr Taleb Rifai declared that the 20th session of the UNWTO general assembly being co-hosted by Zambia and Zimbabwe in Victoria Falls is the best attended in the history of the organisation.
Officially opening the 20th session of the UNWTO here last night, President Mugabe and President Sata said their governments were committed to using tourism as a driver for economic development within the sector and surrounding communities. "The hosting of this United Nations specialised agency's general assembly constitutes for us an important milestone in the economic history of our two countries, Zambia and Zimbabwe, and in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region," said President Mugabe.
Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe and President Michael Sata officially open the 20th session of the UNWTO General assembly which the two countries are co-hosting in Victoria Falls (Source: News Day)
The assembly was declared by UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai as the best attended in the history of the organisation, with a record 900 delegates from the media fraternity, 121 full delegates from the member states, 140 delegates from all over the world, 49 foreign ministers and 750 other delegates attending the event. Rifai challenged delegates to actively participate in the tourism indaba stating that UNWTO was committed to promoting tourism growth in sub Saharan Africa. “We affirm our commitment to place tourism high on the political and economic agenda and to ensure that we co-operate ever more to promote policies that ensure sustainable and exclusive growth in this industry,” he said.
Through a video message played on his behalf during the opening ceremony, United Nations Secretary General, Ban ki Moon called on those attending the general assembly to deliberate on how best their countries could contribute to sustainable tourism. “Tourism is an undisputed driver of economic growth which can benefit people. If managed sustainably, it will assist countries to meet their millennium development goals which we hope to achieve,” he said.
President Mugabe gave a welcoming speech at the ceremony and said it was critical that Africa evolves strategies that effectively lure tourists to the continent.
"Your organization’s emphasis on sustainable tourism has great resonance with the importance Zimbabwe places on the principles of development with equity and empowerment of the masses.
"I must conclude by putting on record our appreciation for the assistance that the UNWTO has extended to us this far as a region. This of late included technical support extended to SADC, through RETOSA, whereby the latter has received assistance towards the establishment of a Tourism Satellite Accounting System (TSAS). The TSAS will help us to fully account for the full contribution by tourism to our national and regional GDP.
"I also note with great satisfaction that the UNWTO has approved community based initiatives for Zimbabwe, and their Sustainable Tourism for the reduction of poverty (STEP) program will run under the theme “Enhance the participation of youth and women in the tourism sector.” This is an effective empowering tool which will promote equity and access to tourism revenue. It also resonates resoundingly with the people empowering initiatives that my government is pursuing.
"The thematic thrusts you intend to pursue in this conference are summarized by the catch phrases 'Open borders and open skies, removing hurdles to the growth of tourism in Africa' are very apt in our times."
“There is no way Africa can increase its portion of the global tourism cake without first promoting intra-African travel. The need for open borders, through regional block visa regimes, which we are trying to implement as UNIVISA through RETOSA, will not only allow easier travel amongst SADC citizens, it will make it easier for the long haul intercontinental visitor and investor,” said President Mugabe. “The type of seamless border between Livingstone town and Victoria Falls town that has been put in place for purposes of this conference should become the rule rather than the exception, for all adjacent touristic border communities throughout SADC, and ultimately throughout Africa."
Zambia President, Michael Chilufya Sata congratulated the two co-host countries for the hard work they had done in preparing for the event stating that the co-hosting was a clear testimony of the two countries commitment of exploiting regional tourism.
Communications company Telecel stole the show by illuminating the Victoria Falls Bridge as part of its contribution to the hosting of the event.
See our Facebook page for more information and images.
Sources: News Day, ZimEye, eTurbo News, All Africa,
No comments:
Post a Comment