Story by Memory Chamisa

THE sustainability of the tourism sector has received a major boost, with the launch of a one-stop shop tourism application, Find and Go, setting the tone for youths in tourism entrepreneurship.

The application has been born out of the Tourism Innovation Challenge that promotes start-ups of innovative applications that can be used for marketing Zimbabwe as a tourism destination of choice.

Miss Tumelo Mabhanga, who is the 2022 winner, has proved her mettle as the application has received an overwhelming response.

“Find and Go is a one-stop shop for everything in tourism, bookings, guest lodges, hotels, and activities. Instead of going through hundreds of sites googling where to go how to go and what to you can just do it on the platform. People have loved the product and everything about it as it is easier to use. We are grateful to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority for the platform that they gave us to showcase our marketing initiative and I am looking forward to the application making its debut globally.”

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Ambassador Raphael Faranisi reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring youths are supported to realise their full potential.

“As the government we will continue to support our youths, especially in the Tourism sector as we look forward to tourists coming in and such applications boost the figures and revenue,” he said.

For the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, having such products set the tone for the tourism industry to attract investments.

The Tourism Innovation Challenge encompasses tourism students across the country who battle it out for honours, mentorship and funding.