A CANADIAN travel agency is expected in Bulawayo in November as part of efforts to reposition the city as an attractive tourist destination.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive officer Karikoga Kaseke confirmed the development saying the tour was part of a drive to market the country as a safe tourist destination.
“It is not only the Canadian travel agency, which will be coming to Bulawayo, but we have invited a number that will be coming to our country as a whole even before November,” he said.
“We want them to familiarise with the product so that they market it on our behalf.”
Kaseke said the visit by the Canadians would help market Bulawayo for the city contribute to resuscitation of tourism in Zimbabwe.
He said tourist arrivals will next year reach an estimated 2,7 million riding on endorsements from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly that was held in Victoria Falls last month.
Kaseke said arrivals would grow from this year’s estimated 2,4 million by year end to at least 2,7 million.
“Our biggest achievement this year is the endorsement by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation general assembly as a safe destination which has positioned the tourism sector to growth,” he said.
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The UNWTO meeting co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia, saw over 3 000 foreign delegates convening in Victoria to mark one of the biggest events the country has ever hosted.
Zimbabwe recorded a 12% increase in tourist arrivals in the first half of this year to 859 995 compared to 767 393 registered in the same period the previous year.
ZTA also attributed the increase in tourist arrivals to the growing trade and commerce in the region.
It noted an increase in business tourists, cross-border traders and transiting tourists, mostly drawn from Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
The market share for overseas arrivals into Zimbabwe stood at 13% compared to the market share for African arrivals, at 87% which is expected to grow next year.
