UNWTO Conference to Be Held In Zimbabwe

Republic of Zimbabwe Vice-President Joice Mujuru attended the 100th African National Congress anniversary held in the Republic of South Africa. The two states share a common history of settler-colonialism and national liberation., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

UNWTO conference centre structure nears completion

August 14, 2013
Victoria Falls Reporter
Zimbabwe Chronicle

THE aluminum and glass structure that will serve as a conference centre for the upcoming United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly will be complete by the end of this week, an official said.

Zimbabwe and Zambia are co-hosting the UNWTO 20th session in Victoria Falls and Livingstone respectively from 24 to 29 August.

The structure is being put at Elephant Hills Resort run by Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed African Sun Limited.

Answering questions from Vice President Joice Mujuru on when the structure would be complete during her tour of the UNWTO projects in Victoria Falls on Friday, the professional conference organiser (PCO), Ms Liegn Wallace said the structure would be finished this week.

“The structure will be done by the end of this week. Everything we need has arrived and we are working on it as we speak,” she said.

Ms Wallace said the double storey structure would have a large conference room to accommodate 500 invited delegates and 300 members of the public.

“It will also have a Press conference room, a registration and accreditation room on the ground floor. The upstairs will have WTO offices, journalists working area and a viewing deck,” she said.

VP Mujuru expressed satisfaction with the work on the ground.

“So far, the progress is very encouraging, it is impressive. We are ready to host the general assembly,” she said.

Meanwhile, the UNWTO advance secretariat team was expected to arrive in the country yesterday ahead of the general assembly.

The arrival of the team is to ensure that the general assembly runs smoothly.

The advance team comes as tourism players say they are ready for the event. The players in Victoria Falls have invested $16 million in sprucing up its image.