New ideas to promote tourism

PARTICIPATION of youths in the Tourism Innovation Challenge has been
commended as the Government moves to incorporate young people in the growth of
the economy.

As the country gears up the mantra of ensuring no one is left behind, young people
have been urged to use their digital skills to promote tourism in Masvingo Province.
The provincial challenge saw three young innovators, Leslie Mafuta, Jubilee Sibanda
and Luckson Zambuko winning US$1000, US$500 and US$300 respectively out of
the nine finalists.

Mafuta’s innovation project was called AmajZim, which seeks to give a 3D virtual
realistic experience while Sibanda and Rumbidzai Mutangadura’s project was called
“A journey into the Mutapa Empire”, which seeks to add a mixed reality experience
to the monuments.

Sibanda said his team’s projects seeks to add realistic features to the Great
Zimbabwe University and instead of people visiting to see the dry-stone walls there
are able to see King Mutapa and other kings doing their daily activities within the
monuments.

“I would like to encourage youths out there to take advantage of these innovative
challenges and walkathons being called out by different organisations. Let us all
come up with different ideas to try and solve different challenges affecting the
tourism sector or other sectors, like agriculture,” he said.
Zambuko’s project was called Zim Africa Music Festival, which focuses on promoting
domestic tourism.

Speaking during the handover ceremony held at a local hotel, Masvingo Minister of
State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira, said through the
innovation challenge the province will make significant strides in developing the
tourism sector.

“To take the economy forward, the Government is committed to the participation of
youth in the economy through innovation. This is evidenced by innovation hubs that
have been established in tertiary institutions throughout the country. We believe that
the youths are keen to create solutions that can address local challenges in our
respective provinces and at national level,” he said.

He said the participation of the young people at provincial level will assist in
stimulating and promoting innovation and entrepreneurship, increasing
competitiveness of tourism products.

“As Masvingo province, we have vast tourism products which have the capacity to
put the province on the spotlight. It is our desire that these innovations we are
acknowledging today become commercialised and make their way into the
mainstream Masvingo tourism economy. We want more diversified sustainable
tourism products for our province.

“It is therefore important for the youths in this province to participate in these
innovation programmes to position the province competitively and grow the tourism
economy. To ensure sustainable tourism growth, there is need to continuously
develop new products and services that can be introduced into the market.”
Chadzamira said as a province, they will continue to support the ideas of the young
people and help them grow beyond implementation.

In an interview, Zambuko urged youths to take part in the innovative challenges that
are being availed by the Government through the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality
Industry and other Government departments.

“I am overwhelmed because I got to be the second runner up for the challenge and I
am very grateful to the Ministry of Tourism for capacitating us financially because we
have the energy, innovation and the ideas but we lack in terms of financial
assistance.

“To the youths out there who have an idea but are just procrastinating to get into
these challenges, this is so real. I wasn’t expecting it. Be part of the process, be in
these initiatives. They really come to life,” he said.