Staff members lead lion cubs out for a lion walk at the Antelope Park, in Gweru, Zimbabwe, Aug. 14, 2016. Lion walk was introduced to Antelope Park over a decade ago as part of an on-going conservation program to save African lions. Only cubs aged below 18 months are taken for lion walk. Once they grow older, human interaction is limited. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuliang)
HARARE, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean Vice President Constantino Chiwenga on Thursday urged the country's tourism stakeholders to vigorously market Zimbabwe as a leading tourist destination following the inauguration of a new government led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Mnangagwa took over from former president Robert Mugabe who resigned in November last year following a military intervention.
"It is encouraging to note that the advent of a new administration has created renewed confidence in Zimbabwe as a preferred destination for tourists and investors," Chiwenga said.
"Stakeholders should therefore take advantage of the prevailing goodwill of the international community towards the new dispensation to vigorously market the country as a preferred tourist destination not only in the region but the entire world," he added.
He was addressing a meeting on the launch of the country's tourism sector strategy.
Tourists take photos in front of the Victoria Falls during dry season near the Zambia-Zimbabwe border on Dec. 11, 2015. Dry season of the Victoria Falls lasts generally from October to next February. (Xinhua/Xu Lingui)
The VP said Zimbabwe's tourist arrivals were expected to jump to 2.5 million in 2018, up from 2.1 million in 2016 on the back of renewed confidence in the country by the international community.
He said tourism presented abundant opportunities to grow the economy and improve the livelihoods of the people.
The sector currently contributes around 800 million dollars to national revenue per year and employs around 300,000 people directly and indirectly.
"Such opportunities should be vigorously pursued and exploited by players in the sector," the VP said.
Zimbabwe is home to the famed and magnificent Victoria Falls, the seventh wonder of the world.