ENVIRONMENT, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira says the government is working with various stakeholders in a bid to come up with special airfares and packages to encourage diasporans to travel home.
Addressing Zimbabweans living in Birmingham, England where she is leading re-engagement and engagement efforts, Minister Mupfumira said they are already working with business partners and airlines on the program.
“Since the ushering in of the second republic, Zimbabwe has been generating renewed confidence and interest throughout the world as a result of a vibrant re-engagement strategy and Zimbabwe is open for business mantra.
“We are already working with business partners including airlines that would ease your travel back home to enjoy what the country has to offer.
“This will be made possible, for example, through the introduction of special fares and packages for Zimbabweans in the Diaspora. This in our view will not only reduce your travel costs but also make tourism packages relatively affordable.” She said.
Zimbabwe recorded an increase in arrivals and the number of investment inquiries in the tourism sector and the increase are attributed to aggressive marketing efforts and new policies that have been put in place by Parliament.
Mupfumira said it would be a mistake not to consider the Zimbabwean diaspora in their efforts as it is a key market sector.
“In this positive trajectory, as Government, we feel it would be amiss for us not to pay attention to, YOU, the Zimbabwe Diaspora in this quest of rebuilding our beloved country. You are a very important and special constituency, which we cannot do without.
“Apart from contributing to tourism expenditure, you are critical to boosting both domestic and international tourist arrivals. This is especially important given that conservatively we have more than 4 million of our people in the Diaspora,” she said.
