via Minister urges tour operators to unite – Southern Eye 4 June 2014 by Nduduzo Tshuma
MATABELELAND NORTH Provincial Affairs minister Cain Mathema has called on tour operators in the province to work together to ensure the smooth running of the industry and rid the industry of negative publicity the sector has suffered from foreign media.
Speaking at a meeting organised by his office at the Hwange Safari Lodge on Monday, Mathema called on the operators to devise marketing strategies that would place the province on the international map.
“We need to work together and defend ourselves from negative reporting, which will always be there unfortunately,” Mathema said.
“If you drive from Bulawayo to here, you will see small shops with Coca-Cola adverts outside.
“That is a big conglomerate in the world, but they always advertise themselves. You need to find strategies to advertise yourselves.”
Mathema said there was need for local authorities in the province to also take part in the sector so they could generate income.
“How involved are local authorities in making money in the process? Let us be free with each other; there is so much that can make us billionaires as long as we respect the law,” Mathema said.
He said his office was open for discussions with operators on ways to improve the industry and how the government could assist.
It was agreed that there was need for serious networking among the operators as well as utilising social media platforms to advertise their activities.
Speaking to Southern Eye after the meeting, Mathema said he had called the gathering to discuss issues affecting tourism in the province.
“The province has received negative publicity with reports claiming that we are busy butchering elephants and other animals, so we wanted to counter that,” he said.
Mathema said they also discussed the on-going human-animal conflict and conflicts within the tour operators themselves.
COMMENTS
Minister, you are already too late. The murders last month of farmers Malcolm and Catherine Francis last month has already resulted in one safari outfit withdrawing from the Mvuradona Wilderness area and the cancellation of foreign bookings. It’s not about coke stands advertising themselves, or negative reporting. It’s about the facts on the ground. Zimbabwe’s bad name for lawlessness is again spreading internationally and will negatively impact on tourism.
this the area where the Presidential elephants are based. whose side is is Mathema really on when he says “there is so much that can make us billionaires as long as we respect the law,” Why as he not come to the rescue of Sharon who has worked tirelessly with the herd??
Only right that all potential tourists know the truth of what they are supporting. Sick of the coverups by government. Tourists should support what and who deserves support, not what government officials with no credibility say to do. Social media is only successful when you already have credibility and can generate credible interest with the masses around the world. Our presidential elephants in this area had so much social media and international support, probably known and supported more than any other wildlife in this country, and look what they let happen there. That was unforgiveable. That is the facts on the ground as Mambo says. Government need to walk their talk BEFORE they let things disintegrate so but that will never happen as we all know.
Do not see these in authority ever walking their talk
Unite against ZANU.
What he is really saying is get busy I need a cut of everything you do…unite all you like, that ain’t much good without a tourist and no game in the parks to draw them here!
The government lets in extremely dubious new operators into the area who destroy all that work done with the presidential elephants and the butchering can only get worse. A meeting with a government official on the wrong side can not fix anything. Just more talk. Fancy meeting at the hwange safari lodge when this is the lodge worst affected by the latest takeover by a woman who only got the land because her mother was a politician working alongside zanupf and then got away with ignoring a cabinet directive to remove her. More government coverup.
Theft is theft, a simple piece of photocopied paper cannot in any law in any country erase the fact that the real owner bought and paid for his property and has legitimate title deed for the property…..In Mocambique 30 years later title deed holders are still taking their properties back….those who have ears let them hear that this is ONLY temporary and that Our Lord and Saviour DOES NOT CONDONE THEFT AND LIES no matter how they are wrapped up and presented on social or any other media….