Story by Tichaona Kurewa
THE local tourism sector is celebrating a resounding success after a record-breaking festive season.
The Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe revealed to ZBC News this Saturday that accommodation facilities across the country reported occupancy rates exceeding 80%, a significant surge compared to previous years.
“Occupancy was in excess of 80% for the period, but if you look at the major festive days, which is the Christmas days, 24 to 26, most properties recorded 100%. During that period, we also saw high volumes of people going into various properties, and the different operators had to come up with various ways to control the traffic. So yes, it was a success,” president of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe, Mr Brian Nyakutombwa said.
“This year’s festive season has been a mixed bag. The diaspora market had suppressed numbers compared to last year, but the traditional domestic market, they did come with their numbers, which was very encouraging,” he said.
“Personally, I can say the business was okay. We realised a slight hike in the number of clients that we normally have on a daily basis in the other months,” safari operator, Mr Charles Chakanya.
Tourism players noted the need to expedite rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway and the absence of traditional festivals such as the carnival as having stifled some potential travellers.
“We used to be busier in the past years when we used to host the big force carnival. A lot of people used to come to the site, so we used to have big numbers of clients coming in. We have realised a decline in the number of clients during this past festive season because there are no festivities around the city,” Mr Praymore Nkomo noted.
“One setback is still access to Victoria Falls from Bulawayo. The road still requires rehabilitation or maintenance. If that is fixed earlier, we should see a remarkable increase in visitors to Victoria Falls,” noted Mr Chakanya.
Zimbabwe’s tourism sector continues on its path to recovery, buoyed by improved marketing efforts, increased investment in infrastructure, and a growing sense of confidence among international and local travellers.
