Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and the country’s private sector were in India recently to meet with the trade and associations in Delhi and Mumbai. Rachael Marufu, Marketing Executive – India, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority; Blessing Munyeniwa, Managing Director, Love for Africa; Gavin Rennie, Director, The Hide and Changa Safari Camp; and Nommy Vuma, Marketing Manager, Africa Albida Tourism formed the delegation on the visit. The aim was to meet with the travel trade to promote and educate them on Zimbabwe’s offerings as a destination. The country received about 6,000 Indians in 2012 and is looking to increase these numbers.
“Five weeks ago, we came to India to meet TAFI, OTOAI and a few other tourism associations and travel agents. We went back and felt the need to return with the tourism authority, so here we are. India is an important market and one where we need to have a strong strategy. Our last visit was a fact finding mission. This time we have come to educate and promote what we have to offer,” said Munyeniwa.
A first step to educating the trade is a roadshow Zimbabwe’s Tourism Authority and private sector are planning together. Marufu revealed that the India Zimbabwe Tourism Counci, along with their India Representative Lubaina Sheerazi will visit Zimbabwe in July to chalk out the destination’s plans for India. “We are planning a roadshow in Mumbai and Delhi, maybe in October this year, where the Authority and private sector will come together to educate the Indian trade about Zimbabwe,” said Munyeniwa.
According to Munyeniwa, whatever South Africa and Kenya, which are popular destinations for India, can offer, Zimbabwe can match on a better platform. The visa processing period, which took three to four weeks earlier, has now been reduced to seven working days, with the facility to pre-apply for all the required documentation and pay for the visa at the port of entry.
Speaking about the Univisa that was proposed in 2009, Munyeniwa stated that the subject was the top item on the agenda of the 20th UNWTO conference which is to be partly hosted in Zimbabwe. The Univisa will allow tourists to visit all African countries on a single visa.
“We are also pushing our government to move India to a Category B country. We would request the Indian travel associations to do the same here to facilitate tourism exchange. If everyone starts working towards this common goal, it will be possible,” he added.
He further added that Zimbabwe is now emerging as a MICE destination and the segment would be of interest for them from India as well. “Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has formed MICE bureau as well to make MICE tourism simple and give it impetus. We also hope to get TAAI and TAFI to visit or host their conferences here as well to get exposure as we believe that experiences are far better than knowledge,” revealed Munyeniwa.
Speaking about the destination’s partnership with OTOAI, Marufu stated that the Authority is yet to begin work with them as it is still designing packages to provide the association and its members with.
