Published by the government of Zimbabwe
26 July 2007
Bulawayo — Southern African countries should adopt uniform standards in tourism and infrastructure development, participants at the ongoing meeting of the Regional Tourism Organisation for Southern Africa agreed yesterday.
Debating on the restructuring of Retosa, the tourism marketing arm of Sadc states which helps to promote the region in co-operation with individual countries' national tourism organisations and the private sector, delegates recommended that tourism training schools meet minimum standards set by the regional body.
Another recommendation was that grading and standardisation of tourism facilities be done in line with Retosa guidelines.
The recommendations are set to be adopted by the Sadc tourism ministers who will meet in Bulawayo tomorrow.
It was also recommended that road signs in the region be made uniform.
Shearwater Adventures public relations manager Mr Clement Mukwasi said uniformity of road signs would reduce road accidents related to inability to read and understand a road sign as these differed from country to country.
"Because we are selling the Sadc region as one, there should be uniform road signs. The signs should be know-one know-all," he said.
Mr Mukwasi also expressed concern at the inappropriate use of colour in road signs.
He said some of the colours used by Sadc members were dazzling and therefore difficult to read for both tourists and locals.
Retosa also recommended the use of the left-hand side of the roads to all the motorists in the region.
According to the recommendations, the left-hand side rule should be made into law so that all member countries adopt it and raise awareness among locals.
It was also recommended that Retosa develop a community and rural-based tourism industry and culture. These will be developed at national level with Retosa co-ordinating.
This should see the involvement of the training of communities to make them aware of the tourism products in the region.
Crucially for Retosa, the countries recognised its importance in developing the industry and recommended that it continue to exist, but noted that its operations were of no significant impact.
"Its mandate is still relevant. What needs refocusing are its activities, programmes and defining implementation aspects," read part of the final recommendations.
The stakeholders want Retosa to assume a new status as a subsidiary of Sadc, under which it would receive funding directly from Sadc countries rather than from the Sadc Secretariat as was the case at present.
"The current existence of Retosa under Sadc, however, is in conflict with the new Sadc structure. Therefore, for Retosa to remain as a stand-alone organisation, it has the option of being a subsidiary body under the Sadc guidelines," reads part of the recommendations.
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