TendaiMatunhu
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) acting Chief Executive, Mrs Rita Likukuma has revealed that it remains committed to working with relevant partners in developing the Joshua Nkomo Heritage Trails into a fully-fledged tourism product.
Speaking at the 20th anniversary Joshua Nkomo Day Commemorations - Joshua Nkomo Legacy Walk and UmdalaWethu Dance held in Bulawayo yesterday, Mrs Likukuma said when properly packaged, Trails can benefit communities as they often lead to the heart of communities as is the case of the Joshua Nkomo Heritage Trails.
“My team is on the ground with me, they have taken note of how to develop this product. We will reconvene with the Trust to map a solid way forward to bring this dream to life. We remain committed to working with other relevant partners in developing these trails until they are a fully-fledge tourism product.
“Part of our role as the ZTA is to identify and develop tourism products that have potential to enhance our product offering hence in 2018, we partnered with the Trust in launching ‘The Joshua Nkomo Tourism Heritage Trails,” she said.
Heritage and Tourism Trails are routes that seek to take one on a historic journey around a particular event or a person. Trails have become a new phenomenon not only in Africa but globally.
She said, “As a nation, we value our founding fathers for the role they played in liberating our great nation, hence our story as a nation can never be complete without their mention.”
Zimbabwe was listed by a notable travel organisation, The Lonely Planet, as the number one tourism destination to visit in 2019. More than ever, she said “we are challenged to do better so that we not only maintain our position as number one, but ensure that when we start to receive the anticipated influx of domestic and international tourists, we have a diverse tourism product offering.”
The Joshua Nkomo Heritage Trails seek to document and provide a narrative that will enhance our rich history as a nation. Global statistics from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, Statistical Unit and United Nations World Tourism Organisation have indicated that Heritage tourism contributes more than 40 percent to world tourism arrivals.
For the past five years, the Joshua Nkomo Legacy Restoration Project Trust has hosted the Joshua Nkomo Legacy walk in commemoration of UmdalaWethu, the late Vice President, Dr Joshua MqabukoNyongoloNkomo better known by the name “FATHER ZIMBABWE’’ due to his compassionate nature.
