Green Tourism unveils new initiative in Zimbabwe

Green Tourism unveils new initiative in Zimbabwe

A partnership with Green-Tourism.com, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority and Environment Africa sees the  a pilot project launched to introduce Green Tourism to Zimbabwe.

15-20 hotels will be selected for the pilot from the Victoria Falls area including Hwange National Park and Livingstone, Zambia. Following awareness training in December 2015 the hotels will be assessed in February 2016 for their awards.

These businesses will become the Founding Members of Green Tourism in Africa, they are: Cresta Sprayview Hotel, Pioneers Camp, The Victoria Falls Hotel, Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Vintage Canvas & Camping andWild Horizons The Elephant Camp.

The memorandum of understanding agreed by the partnership entails a commitment to:

• Help tourism businesses become more sustainable
• Develop minimum Green Tourism standards for integration into a national quality assurance scheme
• Establish a Green Tourism awards scheme for Zimbabwe
• Identify the leading practitioners and supporters and develop a framework for mutual cooperation
• Mobilise resources through partnerships with interested stakeholders
• Promote awareness in the tourism industry of green tourism ethics and practices and disseminate them

Zimbabwe tourism businesses will get: awards based on their  performance  and achievements.

They will also get advice and assistance from qualified, trained environmental auditors, who will, amongst other things, help businesses identify cost savings and marketing opportunities.

Subject to a successful pilot, the project will be expanded to help and empower other businesses throughout the area.

Source: Green Tourism unveils new initiative in Zimbabwe

Tuesday, December 8, 2015