Manicaland readies for holidaymakers

AS the festive season approaches, Manicaland province is gearing up to welcome domestic tourists seeking a memorable holiday experience.

The province — renowned for its stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage and diverse attractions — is preparing to host visitors from across Zimbabwe eager to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and immerse themselves in the beauty of the region.

Manicaland boasts a captivating array of natural wonders, including the breathtaking Vumba Botanical Gardens, the majestic Chimanimani Mountains, cascading waterfalls and lush rainforests.

With its diverse terrain and abundant wildlife, the province offers a plethora of outdoor activities, including hiking, camping, birdwatching and mountain biking.

Players in the local tourism sector are upgrading their facilities and introducing a range of special packages in preparation for the anticipated bumper festive season.

They are pulling out all the stops to ensure Government’s drive to boost domestic tourism is successful.

Players in the hospitality sector, who have warmed up to the Government’s call to promote domestic tourism and reduce over-reliance on foreign visitors, are leaving no stone unturned in their efforts.

Charmed by the ongoing drive, Red Apple Hotels recently refurbished and reopened the iconic Brondesbury Park Hotel in Nyanga.

Ms Nyasha Makanza, the hotel’s general manager, said reopening of the place was a direct response to Government’s call for players in the tourism sector to promote domestic tourism.

“The hotel was specifically reopened to cater mostly for domestic tourists.

“Zimbabweans must have opportunities to enjoy holiday destinations that are within their reach,” said Ms Makanza.

Overlooking the grand Nyanga mountain range, Brondesbury has introduced holiday packages that are tailor-made and attractive to domestic tourists.

“The bulk of our customers are Zimbabweans and we have since introduced the Zimbabwe Residents Special package, which is attractive to domestic tourists,” she added.

Boasting 38 rooms, among them a lavish honeymoon suite, and conference facilities, the hotel is set on 22 hectares of the picturesque Nyanga district.

Apart from the other well-known Nyanga tourist attractions such as Mount Nyangani and Ziwa Ruins, the hotel is also close to the magnificent but lesser-known Chitekete and Zvipadze monuments.

Ms Makanza said owing to increasing demand from domestic tourists, the facility was fully booked for the festive season.

The Government has rolled out several campaigns geared towards promoting domestic tourism.

These include the ZimBho! #IzimYami #Shanya/Vakatsha campaigns.

Recently, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) unveiled another campaign dubbed “Uripi/Ungaphi”, which seeks to encourage Zimbabweans to travel locally.

ZTA chief executive Ms Winnie Muchanyuka said the campaigns were a resounding success.

“Domestic tourism has rebounded and this can be attributed to the campaigns we are running.

“I urge players in the tourism sector to aggressively market their facilities for the festive season,” she said.

Zimbabwe’s tourism sector suffered a massive setback following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Domestic travel has, however, rebounded and this has been attributed to Governments’ efforts to revitalise the sector.

The Government is focusing on growing tourism into a US$5 billion industry. It will be supported largely by domestic tourism.