Zimpapers Logo

Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
ABOUT 150 youths and nine small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in Victoria Falls were on Tuesday presented with certificates after completing training in different hospitality and tourism courses.

The training programme done through the Bulawayo School of Hospitality and Tourism, was funded by the Korean Republic as part of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation STEP legacy project, after the resort town successfully co-hosted the UNWTO General Assembly in August 2013.

The graduation ceremony also coincided with official commissioning of the Victoria Falls Swimming Pool, also a legacy project, which was refurbished after being closed for more than a decade.

The legacy projects are meant to capacitate SMEs and locals in Victoria Falls to be able to contribute to the resort town’s economic growth as well as boost the country’s tourism sector, said Permanent Secretary for Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr Thokozile Chitepo.

She was guest of honour at the two events yesterday where she encouraged youths to use their skills productively so as to contribute to the economy.

“The youth and women training project is a legacy project following successful hosting of the UNWTO General Assembly in August 2013 in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The training was funded by the Republic of Korea through the UNWTO STEP foundation and completion of the project has come at the right time for the country at the end of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, where we prioritised tourism in our sustainable development programmes,” said Dr Chitepo.

She paid tribute to ministries, some of them now combined, for facilitating the programme with the help of the School of Hospitality, the National University of Science and Technology (Nust), University of Zimbabwe (UZ), Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) and the tourism fraternity in Victoria Falls.

“The STEP training course has helped build capacities of women and youths so that they can make a career in tourism and hospitality industry as well as strengthen the capacity of SMEs,” she said.

“This is the beginning and we would want you to start your own businesses in five years as we look forward to seeing your sustainable skills contributing to the growth of the economy.”

Of the group, 26 youths were trained in housekeeping, 36 in food and beverages, 15 on food preparation, 29 in tour guiding while 36 other already employed by hotels did different courses.

Meanwhile, nine SMEs players received certificates and equipment after undergoing training in business administration.

Dr Chitepo said the project will leave a legacy in Victoria Falls as it has capacitated service providers to be able to contribute to the country’s economy. Over the years, youths from Victoria Falls have decried being sidelined by hotels and operators who employ people from outside the town owing to non- availability of skills.

Dr Chitepo said the programme testifies Government’s visionary thinking for its citizens. With resources, she said Government will spread the programme to other tourism hubs such as Nyanga, Bulawayo, Masvingo and Kariba.

@ncubeleon