Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
A domestic tourism festive season travel campaign has been launched in Mashonaland Central Province to encourage citizens to visit local destinations and boost revenue inflows for the hospitality industry.
The scenic Mazowe Dam Resort provided a perfect setting for the launch of the domestic festive season tourism campaign launch by Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Honourable Barbra Rwodzi this Saturday.
“Bonus was set in November so that you get into Christmas well heeled. Others take that money to give operators in Botswana, South Africa even Dubai, some have already booked tickets so we are saying take that money back and use it in Kariba, use it in Victoria Falls and Mazowe. Today all the money we spent on meat beverages and food will pay workers here, thus creating jobs,” she said.
The launch of the domestic tourism campaign falls at a time Mashonaland Central Province is priming to increase tourists’ inflows from Mazowe to Kanyemba under the Northern Tourism Corridor Imitative.
“We envision a tourism a corridor from Shamva to lower Guruve reaching the Zambezi bank in Kanyemba, to support this we must address accessible amenities, making the finalisation of Kanyemba conceptual development plan essential. We seek your assistance to unlock Kanyemba tourism potential, said Mashonaland Central Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Christopher Magomo.
In addition, Mazowe has massive domestic tourism potential due to its proximity to Harare and being the gateway to Mashonaland Central Province.
“I like one thing, you chose Mash Central, having come there you have come to Mazowe and Mazowe West in particular. I receive you well, many people you came with don’t know about Mazowe, they do not know about this place which hosts wedding, this nice restaurant here. We have nice places here and thank you for coming here,” he added.
The domestic tourism campaign is running under the theme: “Travel Zimbabwe”.
The tourism industry contributes more than five percent to the national gross domestic product.
