BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
The decision to take major tourism and sporting events to Masvingo is opening new economic opportunities for local businesses and communities, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi has said.
Speaking at the awards ceremony marking the end of the inaugural September Sports Tourism Carnival at Mucheke Stadium, Rwodzi said hosting major events outside Zimbabwe’s metropolitan centres was key to spreading the economic benefits of tourism.
She said the carnival had demonstrated how sport could be linked with tourism, heritage and business, bringing visitors into the province and increasing demand for accommodation, restaurants, transport, retail and other services.
“Masvingo’s hosting of the Carnival provides a practical model of how Sports Tourism and MICE Tourism can disperse Tourism activity, showcase provincial heritage and create opportunities for communities and businesses within the Tourist economy,” Rwodzi said.
The carnival brought together tertiary institutions, national and community teams competing in football, netball, cricket, tennis, basketball, volleyball, boxing, marathon, pool, golf and rugby.
The influx of athletes, officials and spectators provided a boost to local businesses while giving visitors an opportunity to experience Masvingo’s heritage and cultural attractions.
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Rwodzi said making the carnival an annual event would provide tourism businesses with a predictable stream of visitors and encourage investment in accommodation, infrastructure and other services.
Masvingo is also set to host the 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo from September 9 to 12, creating another major tourism platform shortly after the sports carnival.
The two events are expected to strengthen the province’s tourism offering by combining sport with heritage, culture, gastronomy, leisure and business tourism.
Meanwhile, Minister of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture Lieutenant-General (Rtd) Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe said the carnival had demonstrated the growing economic value of sport.
“Sport has evolved beyond competition into an industry capable of contributing meaningfully to Tourism and Economic development,” Sanyatwe said.
He said sporting events could support local economies while contributing to Zimbabwe’s wider destination-marketing efforts.
The Masvingo events reinforce the push to spread tourism activity and its economic benefits across provinces rather than concentrating major events in metropolitan centres.
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