Countdown to 37th ATA Annual Congress in Victoria Falls

TANZANIA (eTN) – Taking advantage of the growing tourism and travel demands in Southern and Eastern African states, Tanzania’s fast-growing airline, Precision Air, is looking at Zimbabwe as a southe

TANZANIA (eTN) – Taking advantage of the growing tourism and travel demands in Southern and Eastern African states, Tanzania’s fast-growing airline, Precision Air, is looking at Zimbabwe as a southern destination.

When implemented later this year, Tanzania’s registered airline will take over the southern route once operated by Air Zimbabwe. Precision Air officials said other than Zimbabwe, the airline will extend its wings from Tanzania’s capital of Dar es Salaam to Lusaka in Zambia and Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The airline plans to apply a new Boeing 737-300 to fly the route. From May 18, the airline will launch its first schedule three flights a week between Dar es Salaam, Lusaka, and Lubumbashi.

Other routes the airline is eyeing are Lilongwe in Malawi and Luanda in Angola through its expansion to cover the Southern African region.

Precision Air officials have finalized their business plans with the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to allow smooth operations of the airline.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority executive said the launching of Precision Air flights will boost tourism, trade, and commerce between Southern African member states.

Standing as a strong member of the Regional Tourism Organization of Southern African (RETOSA), Zimbabwe is looking to tourism and trade with Tanzania through regional integration.

The Dar es Salaam to Harare route was previously being serviced by Air Zimbabwe and Air Tanzania Corporation, both of which have since pulled out owing to operational challenges.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority will jointly host the Africa Travel Association’s 37th Annual World Congress in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

About 300 delegates are expected at the Congress, including tourism ministers, industry experts representing tourism boards, tour operators and their product development executives, front-line agents, ground operator companies, airlines, and hotels.

The Congress will be held at scenic Victoria Falls, famously known as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Victoria Falls is a giant waterfall located in Southern Africa, shared between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Walter Mzembi said his country’s greatest attraction, other than wildlife and the Victoria Falls, is the hospitality and culture of the Zimbabwean people.

Minister Mzembi is expected to assume the presidency of the Afric Travel Association (ATA) during this year’s Congress.

The last ATA congress in Zimbabwe took place in 1988. ATA was established in 1975 and serves both the public and private sectors of the international travel and tourism industry, with membership comprising governments, tourism authorities, airlines, resorts, and tour operators, among others. Its last congress was held last year in Dakar, Senegal.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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