PICTURE: The draft culture policy supports cultural festivals, cultural fairs and cultural exchange programmes.
FROM 2013, the Government of Zimbabwe has been adopting new policies among them, culture and tourism policies. The tourism policy as well as the draft culture policy came into being after a wide consultation among the stakeholders. Are the policies favourable as far as cultural tourism is concerned?
Starting with the Tourism Policy which was launched in 2014, the country seeks to attract an increase in tourism contribution to the GDP (Gross Domestic Product).
By the time of its launch, the tourism sector had contributed US$749 million to the GDP in 2013 and the focus was to grow it to US$1.8 billion in 2015. This means a 5% increase from 10% in 2013 to 15% in 2015. The policy aims at increasing Zimbabwe’s tourist arrivals from 2.5 million in 2013 to 3.2 million in 2015.
Zimbabwe is subscribed to Africa’s Agenda 2063 which aims at celebrating African culture throughout the continent and abroad.
On travel and tourism, Clause 67 (k) of the Agenda looks at the introduction of “an African passport issued by Member states, capitalising on the global migration towards e-passports, and with the abolishment of visa requirements for all African citizens in all African countries by 2018.”
Zimbabwe is also campaigning for the scrapping of visas at regional and international level.
Clause 4.4 of the tourism policy on Immigration control and visa regime system states that it “will promote the promulgation of a Visa Regime that ensures the smooth movement of people at ports of entry and exit, and supports the engagement of emerging markets such as the BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India and China] countries.” It further states that: “The government will lobby for the implementation of the SADC UNIVISA System to promote seamless cross-border tourism within the region.”
What it all means is that, if member states meet their e-passport target, Zimbabwe might expect a boost in regional tourist arrivals due to cultural exchange and religious based travels.
Recently, our tourism ministry expressed a feeling that South Africa’s new visa regulations (which require all children under the age of 18 to produce, in addition to their passports, an Unabridged Birth Certificate showing both parents’ particulars at all ports of entry to the country) will negatively affect the region’s tourism since South Africa is the region’s main entry point. The introduction of a regional UNIVISA system may yield better results.
Coming to the culture policy, Zimbabwe is yet to launch its draft culture policy of 2013 which is an amendment of the cultural policy of 2007. This new culture policy, again, goes in line with Africa’s Agenda 2063.
According to Clause 42 of the Africa’s Agenda 2063, the continent is encouraged to market its culture abroad. Part of the Clause reads: “Pan African cultural assets (heritage, folklore, languages, film, music, theatre, literature, festivals, religions and spirituality) will be enhanced. The African creative arts and industries … contribute significantly to self-awareness, well-being and prosperity, and to world culture and heritage.”
In the draft culture policy, one of its broad aims is to encourage “individuals, groups and communities, state as well as non-state actor institutions to contribute towards safeguarding Zimbabwe’s culture, artistic expression, tangible as well as intangible heritage for posterity.”
The other broad aim of the draft culture policy is to support “the convening of cultural festivals and cultural programmes across Zimbabwe.”
Should one feel that both the tourism policy and the draft culture policy are just one of the talk shops and have no positive impact on cultural tourism? Let’s have a glance at what’s taking place since the amendment of the policies.
In August 2013, the country successfully co-hosted with Zambia the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. Victoria Falls roared into life as the UN delegates had a chance to experience our culture and one of our natural heritage, the Victoria Falls (Musi-oa-Tunya). The conference was a major boost to the country’s tourism and culture industries.
In 2014, religious gatherings (religious tourism) left a plus on the economy in the name of the International Convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses which saw 3500 international delegates descend on Harare. Judgement Night 2 by United Family International Church left another notable mark. Both conventions took place in the National Sports Stadium in Harare.
This year, the country is going to score yet another first. Harare shall host ICASA (International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa) which shall run from 29 November to 4 December. The delegates are potential consumers of the cultural industry in Zimbabwe.
Key cultural festivals in Zimbabwe have been on the increase. When the 2007 cultural policy was adopted, the major festival which had an international flavour was HIFA (Harare International Festival of the Arts).
Now, more than 30 local, regional and international festivals (be they popular or lesser known) are held throughout the country. The week long Harare International Carnival which is held in Harare and The Great Limpopo Cultural Fair which is held in Chiredzi were both launched in 2013 and have an international and regional flavour respectively.
Since government policies are supporting cultural tourism, how can players develop a viable culture industry? The question shall be answered in the forthcoming article.