Tourism generates $600 million in six months

THE country’s tourism sector generated more than $600 million in the first six months of the year, which is $150 million more than the same period last year, buoyed by visitors from the country’s traditional source markets in Europe, the industry marketing body has said.

Overall arrivals in the sixmonth period leapt by 9 percent to 1,1 million from 1 million a year earlier.

Visitors from Europe, at 101 000, rose by 29 percent from 78 000 in the comparable period a year ago, bucking the trend in other African markets.

Spain and Portugal grew by 75 percent each, while visitors from the United Kingdom, France and Germany rose by 19 percent, 34 percent and 15 percent, respectively.

The bulk of the visitors from Europe — 59 percent — arrived through Victoria Falls Airport, whose recent upgrade allows it to receive wide-bodied aircraft.

Latest statistics from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) show that arrivals during the January to June period grew the most in the Asian market by 59 percent, while America and Africa rose 10 percent and 5 percent, respectively.

In Asia, there was a notable increase of tourists from South Korea (122), India (73 percent) and Japan (53 percent).

Despite a 5 percent growth in visitors from mainland Africa, arrivals from neighbouring South Africa — Zimbabwe’s major source market on the continent — slumped by 34 percent.

ZTA chief executive officer Mr Karikoga Kaseke told The Sunday Mail last week that the country’s image has undergone a major rebirth in the past 11 months.

“What happened last year in November changed the image of the country.

“We have realised that European tourists have increased by 28 percent and we are very impressed by this because these countries are the ones that had traditionally shunned Zimbabwe in the past years,” he said.

“We are still trying to find a way to communicate that we are in a new era to our South African counterparts since tourism from South Africa is on the decrease.

“Over the past six months, we have generated close to $600 million, compared to $450 million that was generated last year during the same period.

“We are very happy because this is export money that is coming into the country.

“After the Victoria Falls upgrading, we think Kariba is very critical.

“Kariba is almost dead, nothing much is happening there. There is need for a regional airport where regional airlines can fly in.”

But industry players say more work needs to be done.

Mr Rishabh Thapar, Associate director at global hospitality consultancy, HVS Africa, believes that effective policies will help enhance the contribution of the tourism sector to the broader economy.

Most travel itineraries in Southern Africa, he said, do not explore the country’s tourism products beyond the Victoria Falls.

Zimbabwe recently launched the grand tourism masterplan that is forecast to steer the sector through 2035.

Easing travel

Government is, however, pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to unlock value in the tourism industry by ensuring the ease of travel to Zimbabwe.

Earlier this year, the country elevated 29 Category C countries to Category B, which allows visitors from these countries to get visas on arrival.

All Sadc member countries are also in Category B.

The country has three visa categories — Category C countries are required to apply for their visas prior to travelling, Category B countries can be issued with visas on arrival and Category A countries do not require visas at all.

Further, visitors are now able to apply and pay for visas online.