ZIMBABWE: Miss Tourism Zim To Market Zimbabwe In Washington DC

MISS Tourism Zimbabwe organisers have dangled an irresistible carrot to prospective beauty queens that will see the winner of this year’s pageant securing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to tour Washington DC in the United States.

Miss Tourism Zimbabwe was re-branded from Miss Carnival, which was last held in 2014 when Gamuchirayi Kujeke (pictured) was crowned queen.

The pageant’s patron, Barbara Mzembi, told NewsDay on Tuesday that preparations to identify the country’s top beauty were hotting up.

She, however, stressed that they were looking beyond outward beauty as they were seeking someone who was intelligent and passionate enough to be the face of Zimbabwe on the world stage.

“The winner of Miss Tourism, as a brand ambassador, does not only have to be beautiful, but should have passion, charm and the brains to represent Zimbabwe to the world. Winning this title is more like a job because she will have to work under pressure to coordinate all aspects of tourism. She will also be the face of the minister’s campaign,” she said.

Mzembi said the winner would travel extensively and learn more about conservation rights to enable her to spearhead the country’s tourism campaign, demonstrating how the country offered vibrant religious and eco-tourism.

The offer to travel to Washington DC, Mzembi said, came courtesy of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation.

“The trip is linked to the effort made by the minister Walter Mzembi with the International Conservation Caucus Foundation and we at Miss Tourism are in support because without conservation there is no tourism,” she said.

“This trip to embody and learn conservation expertise is important because it will help us as a country to unlock our value as a tourist destination.”

Mzembi said the brand ambassador would go to I love New York Conservation Society and the Niagara Falls.

“She will go to I love New York and the Niagara Falls because it is the biggest brand in the world and she will learn how they branded because branding is a very important factor. The falls will help her tap knowledge on how we can unlock value from our (own Victoria) Falls,” she said.