Published: 27 August 2013

The secretary-general of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation Taleb Rifai has said infrastructural challenge is the biggest obstacle that many developing countries encounter in realising maximum benefits from the sector.

He said the General Assembly currently underway in Victoria Falls and Livingstone, Zambia, should come up with ways through which major infrastructure vital for the sector could be improved.

Addressing a media briefing yesterday, Rifai said the ongoing assembly was the best attended in the history of UNWTO and as such deliberations should also focus on how to improve the tourism sector in the region and other developing countries in the world.

Rifai urged developing countries to work on improving hostile perceptions attached to them by developed countries, who contribute much to the global tourism revenue.

While acknowledging there were logistical challenges, the secretary-general said he was impressed with the conference so far and that both Zimbabwe and Zambia should seize the opportunity to market their countries.

He said the conference would leave indelible memories for people of Victoria Falls and Livingstone, particularly marking a clear turning point in tourism fortunes.
- herald

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