CABINET yesterday approved Zimbabwe's joint bid with Zambia to host the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly scheduled for August 26 next year. Zimbabwe and Zambia won the right to co-host the event at the 19th session of the UNWTO General Assembly in South Korea last year. The 20th session will be held in Victoria Falls and Livingstone.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi, yesterday said Cabinet had adopted all the recommendations of the Working Party of the inter-ministerial committee on the hosting of the UNWTO general assembly, which is chaired by Vice President Joice Mujuru.

Minister Mzembi said Treasury should now expeditiously release money in support of issues pertaining to development of an implementation matrix and critical infrastructure.

He said the co-hosting of the event by Zimbabwe and Zambia was a shining example of brotherly co-operation and regional economic integration.

Zimbabwe will require huge financial resources for the construction of a convention centre, shopping mall, upgrading of Victoria Falls and Harare International airports, completion of Joshua Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo and refurbishment and construction of hotels and villas.

Funding is also required for rehabilitation of roads, upgrading of the town's fuel supply infrastructure, provision of adequate, clean and safe water supplies, health care facilities, development of a theme park, broadband and information communication technology facilities.

Further, Government will require resources for construction of museums, exhibition parks and halls.

This comes as Zimbabwe, which regards tourism as the fourth economic pillar, steps up efforts to establish legacy infrastructure that will compete for conventions business in Africa.

Currently, South Africa attracts about 58 percent of all conferences and conventions in Africa while Kenya is the dominant destination in Sub-Sahara Africa excluding South Africa.

Zimbabwe's hosting of the congress is expected to put the country on the international spotlight considering it is the first time countries have co-hosted the UNWTO's premier convention.

"This is endorsement of the country of the highest order. We claim to be the first sector to successfully bust (western imposed illegal) sanctions. Even our own detractors have supported the hosting of the convention in Zimbabwe. As a sector we want to showcase the true Zimbabwe, which is a beautiful and peaceful country," said Minister Mzembi.

Zimbabwe will seek to draw significant mileage through portraying a positive image and its suitability as premier foreign investment destination by putting in place measures to ensure optimal attendance by most if not all 186 members of the international tourism grouping.

The country will play host to the official opening ceremony of the general assembly and will need to display the highest level of organisation and positive image since the entire world will be watching.

This comes amid expectations that over 400 international businesses will attend the global event with a view to seek investment opportunities available in the country.

The businesses are also expected to pay a courtesy call on State Presidents of the host countries.

The UNWTO has given the host countries the latitude to make the event truly African.

As such the event is expected to bring together State presidents of the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier conservation area namely Angola, Namibia, Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Before the two countries host the UNWTO convention technical teams from the organisation's headquarters in Spain will visit the country at least five times to inspect preparations before the event.

Two regional delegations will also visit the country to discuss business issues that will feed into the main plenary issues to be discussed at the international tourism convention. The first led by UNWTO executive

director, Mr Zolta Somogyi, will visit on February 26 this year for inspections.

UNWTO secretary general Dr Taleb Rifai will also visit prior to the event.

His deputy secretary general Asher Ross Migiro attended the last session.