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Dr Walter Mzembi

Oliver Kazunga, Senior Business Reporter
A HIGH-POWERED delegation led by Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Dr Walter Mzembi is in Madrid, Spain attending one of the world’s biggest tourism fairs, Feria Internacional de Turismo (FITUR).

FITUR is the leading tourism and trade fair in Spain and one of the most important in the travel industry worldwide attracting more than 10 000 exhibiting companies from 165 countries, more than 126 000 trade participants and 98 000 public visitation.

The event, which began yesterday ends on Sunday.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority head of corporate affairs Mr Sugar Chagonda said the country was participating at the expo for the ninth time.

“Zimbabwe is this year participating at FITUR for the ninth time from 18 to 22 January 2017 in Madrid, Spain. The Honourable Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr Walter Mzembi is leading the Zimbabwe delegation to Spain comprising officials from his ministry and ZTA,” he said.

Commenting on Zimbabwe’s participation at the fair, ZTA chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke said FITUR offers an opportunity for the country to leverage on the existing relations as well as forge strategic partnerships that promote local tourism in the global sphere.

He noted that the exhibition offers a platform to contribute to the global tourism deliberations and decisions that would further the development of tourism in Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe’s participation at this year’s edition of FITUR is not only essential from a destination marketing, networking and business exploration but also critical as Zimbabwe gears up for a challenge towards the interest of winning the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) secretary general post to be occupied in September.

“With the UNWTO headquartered in Madrid, Spain, all the activities that further the campaign of the would-be UNWTO Secretary General candidature will be conducted during this period,” he cited.

Dr Mzembi is one of the six candidates vying for the top UNWTO post. He is set to formally launch his campaign for the top UNWTO job at a landmark reception event to be held in Madrid today.

The launch will provide a platform for him to outline his vision and strategic plan of how he intends to lead the global tourism body if elected.

Meanwhile, ZTA announced that Zimbabwe recorded an increase in tourist arrivals last year.

Arrivals from Europe rose by 28 percent to  27 433 from 21 496  recorded in 2015 with Spain among the major European markets.  Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, France, Germany and Austria are in the same category.