The President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa is today, August 6, 2020 in Victoria Falls where he is officially launching the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy.
President Mnangagwa is also scheduled to tour key hospitality and tourism facilities as well as commission the Mbano Manor Hotel and Palm Lodge, which are some of the recent investments in the country’s premier tourism destination.
Tomorrow, the President will tour the Harare-Beitbridge Highway projects at Bubye and Mvuma to assess progress on the rehabilitation and widening of the road, one of the busiest in the Sadc region.
Enhancing the performance of the tourism and hospitality industry is at the heart of the country’s economic development agenda while an efficient road infrastructure is a key enabler across the spectrum.
The tourism sector is a key employer and one of the top foreign currency earners for the economy but has been heavily crippled by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic through restricted travel.
As a part of the recovery from the pandemic, Government has adopted a gradual re-opening approach, albeit with strict conditions, which potentially allow domestic tourism and hospitality industry to recover in the near term.
The recovery strategy during the second half of 2020, is expected to remain inward looking with initial focus on domestic tourism while monitoring and assessing implications from opening to international tourism.
“The main objective of the visit is to launch the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy, which has been approved by Cabinet. His Excellency the President will also lead the repackaging of Victoria Falls as the lead destination,” said Mangaliso Ndlovu, the Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry in an interview.
“He will visit hospitality projects and is actually leading from the front in appreciating the significance of the tourism sector and in contribution to the economy.
Source: herald.co.zw
