‘’If I were minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry.’’

In 2014, I participated in a writing competition conducted by an organization called YETT in Zimbabwe. It so happened to be my gap year so I had a bit of time on my hands. They are a youth empowerment group who seek to help young people in the nation. The topic was ‘If I were minister of…’ in which one had to write what they would do in order to better the nation Zimbabwe from that particular sector. I was the only competitor to write about the tourism and hospitality industry. My essay won me an internet modem which was one of the prices to be won for the writing competition. It was such a beautiful experience to see the minds of other young people pertaining to matters that affect the nation as a whole. It was also a learning experience for my writing skills.

Below, I have copied the essay that won me 3rd place in the nationwide competition.

Read and Enjoy!

IF I WERE MINISTER OF TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY

BY VONGAI MOTSI

Cultural Tourism

As the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, I see opportunities to empower, raise tourism awareness and reduce unemployment among youths.

I would review past achievements and set SMART 5 year targets for increased youth involvement in tourism. I would involve all relevant sectors to ensure all tourism players contribute towards a shared vision at a strategic planning meeting.

Thereafter we would get into an overdrive in marketing our country.

International tourists are misinformed by negative rumors about Zimbabwe and this has resulted in the detrimental decline in the numbers of inbound tourists and loss of jobs and income. Each year a new theme will be adopted to popularize Zimbabwe as a top tourist destination. Youths will be involved at all branding stages. The theme will be boldly displayed at all ports of entry. With assistance from the Ministry, youths would be empowered to produce theme branded marketing goods, thereby creating employment for them.

Passionate youths would be posted as attaches at all ports of entry to market the country’s tourism destinations. This would make it near-impossible for anyone to leave the country without visiting some of our tourism attractions. All hospitality players will work together to come up with exciting, affordable and user-friendly packages for busy travelers. Tourist information packages will be readily available in the plane, at ports of entry, taxis, shuttle buses, hotels, restaurants.

Organised highly educated/empowered/trained youths will work as mass marketers of the country through active blogs, newsletters, e-magazines, web pages and websites, word of mouth, flyers, billboards and posters. These youth bloggers will frequently travel across the nation to take pictures and write about their experiences. Increased efficiency includes introduction of online booking services for customers and provision of auxiliary products and services to encourage more tourists to explore their options in the comfort of their homes.

Tourism education will be offered consciously from creche to ‘A’ level. Tertiary and degree level education should also provide tourism courses to encourage the serious uptake of tourism as a career. Government and industry will offer scholarships for deserving students locally and abroad. Specialized tourism and hospitality for students, academies will be established to focus mainly on various aspects of tourism/hospitality. Wide range exchange national, regional and international exchange programs would be encouraged. This would initiate the young generation to become well groomed national ambassadors of the industry at an early age.

Vibrant, skilled, and trained youths would be recruited to visit schools/communities and educate them on tourism. Students will be encouraged to venture into various tourism activities whilst they are still in school. Various government/industry initiated concerts/festivals/competitions would be organised among schools, localities and communities to raise awareness among youths. Experienced scouts will identify extra-ordinary talents in various relevant tourism disciplines. Winners would be funded and trained to become experts in their fields. They will then be exported to the international market where their major role would be to campaign for Zimbabwe as a major tourist destination.

Meanwhile, other youths would be encouraged to start travel, tourism and hospitality businesses to promote youth tourism. Educated, well-funded and mentored youths will be encouraged to venture into tourism business such as urban/religious/social/environmental/cultural/sports/hospitality/fashion and adventure tourism.

As Minister of Tourism, I would ensure that the Government and industry work together to construct youth friendly tourism infrastructure throughout the country such as themed amusement parks/attraction centers and entertainment based centers such as zoos/water-parks/islands, skiing/skateboard/drag-racing/sky-high-roller coasters/circus, among others.

My ministry will seek to turn unemployed youths into top ambassadors for the country’s tourism initiatives on a national, regional and international scale!