Domestic tourism drives festive season receipts
POSITIVE results were recorded from the targeted campaigns to boost the country’s tourism sector as the number of visitors to the local resorts grew significantly during the festive season on the back of a rise in domestic tourism.
Zimbabwe is targeting a US$5 billion tourism industry by 2025 which is anchored on the growth of domestic tourism, Zimbabweans visiting their own tourist attractions and getting to know their country.
As such, the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has been on a drive to promote the country’s tourism sites to citizens and last year rolled out campaigns which sought to endorse local tourism and enhance the festive season experience for both locals and the diaspora.
The launch of the domestic tourism festive season campaign alone drew an attendance of about 28 000 local people from across the country.
Giving an analysis of the campaign results on Friday, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi said the high numbers were an indication that local people were eager to explore the rich cultural and natural heritage of their homeland.
“The Domestic Tourism Festive Season Campaign showcased a vibrant tapestry of attendance, providing a shaded insight into the diverse provinces of Zimbabwe.
“The campaign generated substantial attendance across provinces, showcasing the interest and engagement of the local population.
“The Meet and Greet Campaign efficiently facilitated visitor arrivals and disseminated crucial information. The statistics reveal a positive trend in domestic tourism during the festive season, indicating the effectiveness of the collaborative efforts between the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, ZTA, and other stakeholders.”
There was also increased traffic at ports of entries from December 21 to January 2 with a total of 22 783 entries.
Beitbridge facilitated the highest number of entries at 87 697, while Victoria Falls International Airport received 26 206 and Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport 25 147 arrivals.