By Daniel Chigundu
ZIMBABWE Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive Dr Karikoga Kaseke has said the World Class Legends (WCL) who are in the country to play an exhibition match are good for marketing tourism owing to their huge following.
The country’s tourism has been lagging behind owing to poor marketing strategies which were a result of lack of adequate funding from the government.
Tourism thrives with high levels of consistent marketing as there is a wide competition for tourists from countries.
However, since the coming in of the new dispensation, things have begun to change as the country is slowly opening up to the world and engaging new markets.
Addressing the media, Dr Kaseke said the coming in of the World Class Legends is in line with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision of Opening Zimbabwe for Business.
“They (WCL) have become friends of Zimbabwe, they support the vision of our President that Zimbabwe is Open for Business; it’s purely an economic mantra. They are playing an exhibition match in support of that vision.
“They have a massive following of over 3 billion combined on social media and the purpose is to show that Zimbabwe is peaceful a country and we uphold our peace.
“No tourist would want to go to a country where their safety is not guaranteed, Zimbabwe is peaceful and we want to show that through soccer and this is not a soccer developmental match, we are not developing soccer but marketing our tourism destination it’s a marketing issue,” he said.
Speaking at the same briefing, WCL manager Mr Garcia said the legends are glad to be in Zimbabwe and they are going to make a documentary about their experience in the country and share with the world especially in Europe.
“The match is going to be on Wednesday, all the players are here and they will play against Zimbabwean legends.
“We have come to promote the country, we are promoting the country for the world, and we will make a nice documentary and share in Europe that Zimbabwe is a safe destination,” he said.
TV personality Chanita Foster who is also in the country scouting for business opportunities said she had been amazed by the level of safety in the country and that she looking forward to coming back to the country and to do business.
“It feels good to come to a country without calling your Embassy for security and be able to walk in the streets without security.
“I am in Zimbabwe alone and I was sent by our company, we are scouting for business opportunities to see where we can build our warehouses and I look to forward to come back and to do business in Zimbabwe our company is represented in 156 countries across the world,” she said.
