Zimbabwe Economic News Review: Plans to double tourist numbers, Emirates ups Zambia / Zim route capacity

Tourism Master Plan to be launched

In the tourism sector, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation has helped Zimbabwe come up with a Tourism Master Plan that should see the country’s tourism and hospitality industry more than double in growth and tourist arrivals by 2015. In an interview at the UNWTO headquarters in Madrid, Spain, the organisation’s director for technical co-operation and service Harsh Varma said under the plan that is now awaiting a launch in Harare in a few weeks, Zimbabwe will be helped to increase its tourist arrivals from 2.2 mln to 5 mln in two years. He said jobs in the industry should increase from the current 200 000 to 450 000 by the same year, while the country’s contribution to the Gross Domestic Product will increase from 9.1% to 15% by the same year – Herald, Saturday February 2.

Investors keen on Zim Tourism

Furthermore, thousands of investors from Europe have shown interest in investing in Zimbabwe after touring the country’s stand at the just-ended fourth edition of the Tourism and Business Forum for Africa in Madrid, Spain. Speaking during the business-to-business meetings, former United Nations World Tourism Organisation deputy secretary-general and advisor Geoffrey Lipman said Zimbabwe was a viable investment destination with potential for huge growth – NewsDay, Monday February 4.

Emirates’ Boeing 777-300ER lands in Harare

In a very positive and encouraging development, Emirates Airlines’ 354-seater Boeing 777-300ER landed in Harare last Friday, confirming growing preference of Zimbabwe as tourism destination in Africa. The Boeing 777-300ER, the longest passenger aircraft ever to touch down in Lusaka and Harare, replaced a 237-seat Airbus A330-200, a capacity increase of more than 50%, Emirates senior vice president of commercial operations for Africa, Jean Luc Grillet has said – Daily News, Monday February 4.