By Tawanda Musariri
Zimbabwe this morning joined a Chinese driven tourism market involving 4.4 billion citizens from 65 countries from all continents.
The ambitious project branded the Grand Tour Africa-New Horizon will see an additional and guaranteed arrival of 350 Chinese tourists monthly ushered in by the Ethiopian Airlines. The team is led by Mr He Liehui, President and Manager of Touchroad International Holdings Group.
A brief from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), hosts of the visiting investment party said, “Please note that an advance team organized by a Chinese Investment Group, Touchroad will arrive in Harare today (yesterday) 21 January 2019 at 13:40 at RGM Airport. The team of 33 will include journalists and cultural performers. The main objective is to launch Tour Africa- The New Horizon tourism project.”
The Chinese investors seek to introduce Zimbabwe not only to the 64 other countries but to the vast Chinese market of 1.4 billion people constituting 18 percent of 7.7 billion people on earth. The 350 Chinese visitors coming to Africa monthly will pass through Djibouti and Tanzania before finally landing in Zimbabwe by a chartered Ethiopian Airlines flight.
Welcoming the 33 member team at a local hotel on Tuesday, the Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Hon Priscah Mupfumira appreciated the Chinese gesture for electing Zimbabwe among a host of prime global destinations. She went on to install Zimbabwe Tourism brand ambassadors, among them Mr Liehui.
“The launch of Tour Africa comes at a time when we as Government are re-engaging the world to come and invest in Zimbabwe. As such we have also made strides to ensure that we are ably represented by Patriotic Tourism Ambassadors regardless of race, colour or creed. I therefore, wish to take this opportunity to officially announce that my Ministry has appointed the following Ambassadors for Tourism Promotion; He Liehui, Tendayi Mutawarira, Danai Gurira and PJ Powers,” said Honorable Mupfumira.
“Introducing the guests, Minister Mupfumira said, “Mr. Liehui, a key player in the Belt and Road Initiative, is President and Manager of Touchroad International Holdings Group. He is the think tank behind the Tour Africa- New Horizon Project. My Ministry has an MOU with Touchroad signed in April 2018 during the State visit by our President, H.E. Mnangagwa. He has been instrumental in bringing investors from China with an anchor in all sectors of the Zimbabwean economy. He coordinated the China-Zimbabwe Business forums in April and June 2018.”
The 33 member team is comprised of businesspersons and cultural performers who will partner with locals in a cultural exchange marking the launch of the project later today.
