Harare – Inbound Tour Operators of Zimbabwe (Itoza) members have begun upgrading their services in preparation for the 2010 World Cup soccer show case that is expected to immensely boost Zimbabwe’s tourism sector. Itoza, a sub-sector body under the umbrella of the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism, represents business interests of tour operators and destination management companies operating in Zimbabwe. Itoza chairman and group chief executive of Five Bulls Holdings Limited, Tich Mudzonga, said his members have rolled out massive programmes to reap from the football fiesta taking advantage of the country’s proximity to South Africa.
“We have positioned ourselves for the World Cup but we are also looking beyond 2010 so that we continue to market Zimbabwe as the best tourist destination.
“This is a chance for us as tour operators and we have come up with plans to complement Government efforts in building and upgrading our tourism facilities,” said Mudzonga.
He said the spate of bad publicity by hostile news sources had motivated stakeholders in the industry to work together and participate in promoting tourism.
He added that although South Africa has a lot of tourism facilities the country could not go it alone because of the expected huge flow of tourists coming to the southern African region for the 2010 soccer showcase.
Mudzonga also commended the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) for providing the necessary funds in upgrading facilities and urged tour operators to work within the confines of ZTA so that they benefit from government initiated programmes.
He revealed that his company had already rolled out a programme to ease shortage of accommodation dubbed “lease a house 2010″ during the World cup.
The programme is targeted at Harare, Bulawayo and Masvingo homeowners to lease their houses for the soccer showcase and it falls under Five Bull Holdings’ two subsidiaries Home to Home and Fbnet Internet services.
In May this year, Match, a company appointed by Fifa to provide ticketing accommodation and event information technology services, revealed that for the first time in history, Fifa would be contracting non-hotel accommodation in Zimbabwe such as national parks, bed and breakfast lodges and guesthouses.
The project has already attracted 800 properties and is poised to benefit the company through improved foreign currency.
The tourism industry is considered strategic to the economy and has the potential to become the country’s major foreign currency earner.
Zimbabwe is set to attract a number of tourists during the event due to its various tourist facilities and world class accommodation.
Some countries have also indicated that they would want to use Zimbabwe for camping during the soccer events as it falls within the 90 minute flying range to game venues in South Africa, as required by Fifa.
Source: The Sunday Mail
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