Zimbabwe’s tourism sector has so much room for the youth. There’s an opportunity for young people to create and provide services, to individuals and to corporate clients in the sector. The energy, and creativity of youth is essential in guaranteeing the success of Zimbabwe’s tourism, so we thought to inspire someone who might be sitting on the sidelines, with their skills not benefitting the industry and providing financial value to them. We feature some low capital opportunities which youth can capitalize on.

Digital Marketing

The internet has opened up so much space and room for youth to come up with digital products and services. Many local brands are still struggling to get an online audience for their brands, they need you to help them with their social media strategy, running their website, and keeping their sites optimized for search engines. They also need help with content creation too, if you have that spark for creativity, then you have an opportunity waiting for you, you have a space in the tourism sector! 

Branding

Most service providers are looking for ways through which they can create a distinctive appeal in the market. In some fields, there’s stiff competition, and the one who with the best brand and reputation usually wins.

The internet has made it easier for us to learn skills like how to develop a brand from scratch. Why not find someone who is starting up, offer them brand building, reputation management, and brand maintenance service; of course at a fee!

Tour Planning

We have met many people who want to travel, but don’t know where to start from, because they don’t have information on destinations, don’t know the logistical requirements of getting to a place, and also don’t want the stress to make calls to various service providers to put together a travel plan.

In your spare time, you can help people create tour plans, make life easier for them and ensure they get an unforgettable travel experience, such that they will always remember you and refer you to the next person, and most importantly that they find value in your work and pay you something.. It may not be much when beginning, but remember, we have to start from somewhere.

Transport Service

After planning a tour, the challenge is for someone to get from their home to their destination. Some don’t have cars, some do, but don’t want the burden to drive long distances, so someone has to serve them with transport. Usually people look for a transport service provider, who they can entrust with their lives and safety over the journey.

Look at Pamushana Africa, it’s an example of carving a niche and growing through it. It’s such a shining example, which we can take inspiration from and do great things in our own way.

Remember you don’t have to own it to use it… think about this before you say “But I have no car..”

Tour Guiding

At one point, we had a client and desperately sought the services of someone with a tour guide licence, even a learner was welcome. We searched on Google, and social networks, but couldn’t find someone. A lucrative opportunity was missed because no one could be there for it.

Zimbabwe receives visitors from outside, have you ever wondered who takes them around? Could that person be you?

Locally, people travel to various destinations, game parks, safaris and the likes. Going new places can be hectic; you just don’t know what to do when you arrive, which place to go and not to go, what things to do and not to do. Or how to react when you see a charging bull elephant, or a monkey staring at you.

Tour guides help people know about places, taking them through and ensuring they have a wonderful experience at a place. 

If you love interacting with people, love nature, love wildlife, then you could be the next best tour guide. Just make sure that you go through training, and have a license to be a tour guide. 

Support Services to the Value Chain

So the hotel needs cleaning, who cleans it for them? They need their lawn trimmed, who does that for them? The conference centre needs a catering service provider, who provides? The lodge needs its roof, beds, floors fixed.. who does that? There’s a new player who wants to do market research.. who does it for them? All these are opportunities which youth can fill in to provide services to players in the sector.

There are lots of services which add value and are an important part of the value chain which are always being sought by various service providers. Look at your skill set, passion and area of expertise and see where you can serve. You can’t be everything, but can find something which you do perfectly well and be known for it.

Business Consultancy

Business consultancy is another opportunity which youth can harness. So let’s say someone wants to start a business serving tourists with information and travel packages, but don’t know how to position themselves in the market and keep their business running, they will need someone who can help them understand the market and and come up with strategies which will leave them leading the market. So many other things make consultants relevant, for instance, Public Relationship consultancies are important when a crisis needs to be managed, tax consultancy when preparing books and more. 

Facilitation, and MC Service

Zimbabwe’s MICE sector has been performing well, until the COVID 19 pandemic happened. All the events being hosted need someone who can direct them. Facilitators, rapporteurs, moderators and MCs are important for keeping events flowing. If you have a nice fitting suit, confident before crowds, knowledgeable about relevant topics, and charismatic, you could have a chance waiting for you. 

That’s your opportunity! Take it.

Making and Selling Merchandise

Curios are good business, tourists are always looking for them, to buy for their beloved ones or to keep for themselves as souvenirs. 

It could be a printed T-shirt, a sewn scarf, a sculptured item, or any other item you make, there’s a potential to sell to either the domestic market or the foreign arrivals. Whilst travel may have been slowed down by COVID-19, there will come a time it will be back again to its true potential.  

You could get your next sale to someone from abroad, who will make your products go to places you never imagined yourself going. Amazing, isn’t it?

Photography

This is another amazing opportunity for those who have an eye for angles, who can capture things with the lenses. Resorts need pictures for their marketing. People need pictures of their travel experiences so that they can post to their Instagram! 

By now you must have realized that you have lots of space in the tourism sector and may not need as much capital. Don’t be limited to what we have written, there is so much more. Your skills, and talents, can be your stepping stone into becoming the next big thing in one of the most interesting industries in the world. Just have an open mind, and the heart to serve, and you will realise, there’s a lot you can do.

We wish you the best.

tinashe@travelzimbabwe.co.zw