Hotel occupancy up in Mash West

HOTEL occupancy in Mashonaland West Province has risen significantly ahead of the July 30 harmonised elections to over 90 percent last week.

The rate had risen to 56 percent during the first five months of the year, a significant rise compared to 47 percent in the same period last year.

In an interview, Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Innocent Manyera attributed the sharp rise to the arrival of election observers who are seeking accommodation across the country.

“The occupancy rate has increased because we have a number of tourists travelling for election preparatory reasons, some of the hotels are now fully booked, yet people are still coming,” he said.

Mr Manyera said Government’s decision to reduce the number of road blocks also stimulated growth in international and domestic travel in Zimbabwe.

“The number of roadblocks we had before the new dispensation affected tourist arrivals into the country, but this changed after Operation Restore Legacy in November last year,” he said.

Mr Manyera also hailed the Government’s Command Agriculture, saying it did not only benefit farmers, but also boosted tourism industry as beneficiaries were travelling from one place to another on business.

“The good harvest through Command Agriculture also brought with it activities in the province, hence there is a lot of travelling by agriculture harvest-driven farmers,” he said.

Mr Manyera said hotels attracting more visitors include CUT Hotel, Chinhoyi Caves, Caribbean Bay and Cutty Sark, while tourist resorts such as Mana Pools, Mazvikadei Resort have also been popular with tourists.

He also applauded the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority for enhancing the sector’s marketing skills, both locally and globally, to attract tourists.