Douglas Chiwiro, the Director of Economic Affairs and Investment for the province, remarked on the progressive strides the region has taken, exemplified by this year's motto: "Leaving no one and no place behind in tourism."
Chiwiro emphasized the concerted effort put in by local authorities to promote their individual tourist attractions at the Expo.
“Mashonaland West boasts an abundance of tourism opportunities, with Kariba standing out as the primary tourist attraction. Our focus at this year's Expo was not only showcasing but also forging ties with international markets,” said Chiwiro.
Praising the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), Chiwiro added, "ZTA deserves commendation for organising a productive networking session and facilitating interactions between local exhibitors and international stakeholders."
Chiwiro shared his optimistic vision for the region's tourism potential, particularly for Kariba.
"The influx of tourists to Kariba indicates the boundless prospects we hold. Post-Expo, we anticipate an upswing in investment projects in tourism. In line with this, plans are in motion to upscale infrastructure in Kariba, enabling us to host major business conferences and magnetise global investors in the tourism domain,” he said.
However, Chiwiro pointed out a major challenge—the dire need for enhanced airline connectivity to cater to the international influx to Kariba.
Currently, the only operational airline is Fastjet, connecting Harare to Kariba.
Addressing potential investors, Chiwiro stressed, "The myriad business opportunities in Mashonaland West await you. Zimbabwe remains an ideal business destination, and we're leveraging this to our advantage."
In line with national objectives, Zimbabwe has recently rolled out a tourism growth plan aimed at rejuvenating the industry's contribution to the country's financial landscape.
With provinces like Mashonaland West ardently endorsing and embracing this initiative, the future looks promising for Zimbabwe's tourism sector.
