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Outline of the Project

Project Name

The Project on Community Based Tourism Master Plan Targeting Poverty Alleviation in the Republic of Zimbabwe

Duration

From June 2015 to June 2017

Counter Part

Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry (MOTHI)
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA

Background

The Tourism sector in Zimbabwe had remained stagnant due to political and economic disturbance; however, it has recovered rapidly in recent years. The Zimbabwean government considers tourism as an important sector to lead social and economic development in the country and prepared the national tourism policy in 2014. It regarded promotion of Community Based Tourism (CBT) that contributes to poverty alleviation and employment creation in communities as one of basic approaches. Although the existing 30 CBTEs own amenities and tourism resources that allow them to receive certain number of tourists, they are in difficulties in commercializing their CBT activities. The biggest problem is that both CBTEs and MOTHI which is supposed to support CBTEs lack marketing and promotion capacities.

Expected Outcomes

The goal of the project was two-fold:

  • To carry out pilot projects in four existing CBT sites, which were selected following an analysis of the baseline survey results, and
  • To develop a CBT master plan for use by MOTHI and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) as a roadmap and guideline for CBT in the country.

Activities done

Through the two-year project, the project team conducted following four major activities.

1. Baseline survey on 24 sites

  • The project team conducted baseline survey on existing 24 CBT sites with MOTHI and ZTA officials including background, demand & supply, and socioeconomic impact of each CBT site.

2. Selection of 4 pilot sites

  • MOTHI, ZTA and the project team assessed the 24 CBT sites from the (1) perspective of current development and future potential, (2) feasibility, (3) category of tourism products and (4) management body. Four pilot sites were selected considering the types of tourism products and location of the sites. The selected sites are Gairezi (nature/ Manicaland Province), Tengenenge (art & craft/ Mashonaland Central Province), Chesvingo (culture/Masvingo Province) and Bulawayo (township/Bulawayo City).

3. Pilot project at 4 sites

  • MOTHI, ZTA and the project team started pilot projects at the four sites in May 2016. After the kick-off meeting, the project team carried out following activities: (1) identification of resources, (2) development of tourism products, (3) stakeholder analysis (identification of issues on CBT development and community development and expected benefits of CBT) (4) training programmes on basic knowledge on tourism, basic knowledge on marketing, hospitality, hygiene and sanitation, guiding practice, accounting, etc. with CBT members and the community people. At the end of the pilot projects, the project team organised (5) familiarization (FAM) trips that invited tourism professionals and medias at Tengenenge, Chesvingo, and Bulawayo.
  • MOTHI, ZTA and the project team, together with the community people, developed "Discovery Trails" and prepared maps which explain the trails and tourism resources based on the Ecomuseum concept in Chesvingo and Bulawayo. In Tengenenge, the project team improved exhibition at the site museum and road signs as pilot activities of facility improvement.

4. CBT manual and CBT handbook

  • The project team prepared a CBT manual that included lessons learned from pilot projects and experiences from other countries. The CBT manual describes practical methods to launch or improve CBTEs. Intended users of the CBT manual are officials of government organisations.
  • In addition, the project team prepared a CBT handbook. This is to introduce very basic items such as what CBT is, what the benefits of CBT are, how to start CBTEs, etc. to community members who have already started CBTs or are willing to start CBTs.

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