Zimbabwe seeks partners for tourism infrastructure development

Zimbabwe is seeking joint venture partners for the development of exhibition and convention facilities in Harare and Victoria falls, the tourism deputy minister,  Walter Kanhanga has said.

Kanhanga told a media roundtable in Brussels, Belgium this week that government was keen to work with Netherlands and Belgium investors in the exploitation of opportunities in the tourism sector.

“Zimbabwe is open for business and there are several investment opportunities available in the tourism sector.  We are looking for those interested in the development of infrastructure,” he said.

The deputy minister noted that the country was also looking for a joint partner in the development of convention and exhibition facilities in Harare and Victoria Falls following an increase in meetings, incentives, conference and exhibition (MICE) business.

“We envisage Harare requiring about a 1 000 more rooms by 2018 and at least another 1 000 by 2020. In our tourism capital, that is the resort town of Victoria Falls we require at least 500 more rooms by 2018 and a 1 000 more rooms by 2020. Other areas such as the Eastern Highlands and Kariba will also require accommodation but at a small scale,” he added.

A tourism delegation from Zimbabwe, which recently participated at the Vakantiebuers show in Netherlands and Vakantiesalon Vlaanderen Expo in Antwerp, Belgium, is now in Spain for the FITUR tourism exhibition.

Zimbabwe is currently engaging various European countries in an effort to lure tourists who abandoned the destination in the last decade after Western governments slapped the country with travel warnings citing political and economic instability.- The Source

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