TOURISM Minister Barbara Rwodzi has taken the country’s agenda to to the inaugural United Nations Sustainability Week currently underway in the United States.
Zimbabwe is taking part in the first-ever Sustainability Week, at United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA, convened by the President of the General Assembly for its seventy-eighth session Dennis Francis.
The Sustainability Week features a series of back-to-back events consisting of thematic debates aimed at ensuring high-level attendance and progress related to ‘Revitalization of the work of the General Assembly’ (Resolution 77/335), culminating into the Summit of the Future.
The event presented a platform for Zimbabwe to share experiences with other member states and showcase its contribution towards the development of a resilient and sustainable tourism industry in the country.
Speaking at the forum, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi reinforced the critical role of sustainable tourism in economic development and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Minister Rwodzi updated delegates on various initiatives by Zimbabwe to develop and promote sustainable tourism practices that benefit the economy.Meanwhile Minister Rwodzi has held sideline meetings with Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno.
Zimbabwe and Indonesia share excellent relations and are keen to deepen cooperation in the tourism industry.
During the meeting the Ministers underscored a need to accelerate joint efforts on cultural exchange programs, capacity building, and eco-tourism programs, among other collaborations.
Minister Uno hailed the role played by Minister Rwodzi in shaping the Zimbabwe tourism industry.
Minister Rwodzwi also met the Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Tourism Chester Cooper and exchanged views on various issues regarding bilateral relations and cooperation between the two countries.
Zimbabwe is keen on collaborating with Bahamas on best practices for the tourism marketing segments and strategies as the Bahamas economy is driven by tourism industry contributing 65% to the Country’s GDP.
The Bahamas is also keen on working with Zimbabwe on joint marketing, promotion campaigns, capacity building, among other initiatives. The two Minister agreed to draft a memorandum of understanding on cooperation which will be expeditiously enforced by the two parties in the shortest time.
