‘Exciting’ Maun holds fastjet spellbound
ZIMBABWE’S fastest growing airline, fastjet, said Friday it was determined to play a big role in reassembling the pieces of a broken tourism industry, with key route launches into “high traffic” regional destinations.
Fastjet, which adds new connections into South Africa next month before expanding into Maun, one of Botswana’s tourism backbones, has been buoyed by relaxations of Covid-19 induced restrictions in Sadc’s prime destinations.
It hopes that the new swing into connecting Sadc’s leisure capitals would lift under fire operators out of bankruptcy.
Fastject was one of a few airlines that received specific mentions Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) as the locomotives to drive a projected big bounce back of the sector this year.
“We are thrilled to launch the new flights from Victoria Falls to Nelspruit’s, Kruger Mpumalanga International Airport in South Africa and from Victoria Falls to Maun Airport in Bostwana,” fastjet digital content and media officer Nunurai Ndawana told
Standardbusiness.
“Effective March 16 we will be launching flights from Victoria Falls to Mpumalanga South Africa and June 30 it will be Victoria Falls to Maun in Botswana. These are tourism flights that are very exciting for the recovery of tourism in Zimbabwe and the region.
“These routes are key to the development of tourism in the region and are high traffic areas, which are exciting to be linked together in terms of tourism in the region.”
Fastjet will initially service the Victoria Falls - Mpumalanga South route three times weekly before increasing frequencies to daily from July.
The airline will service the Victoria Fall - Maun route four times weekly, according to a statement released recently.
Tourism recovery has received attention in some of Zimbabwe’s key offices after the sector relapsed into turmoil in the past two years in the wake of Covid-19 induced shut downs.
In the recent monetary policy statement, central bank governor John Mangudya extended a lifeline to the industry by increasing to 100% the foreign currency retention thresholds.
Previously, sector players retained 60% of their foreign currency earnings.
His plan is to help the industry quickly recapitalise.
Despite the tourism crisis, the industry continued to attract investment last year.
It received a major boost after financial services group Old Mutual Zimbabwe opened the US$24,6 million Palm River Hotel in Victoria Falls.The four-star facility, on the shores of the Zambezi River, is a partnership between Old Mutual and Spencer Creek, an established tourism firm with significant interests in the industry.
Other projects that were unveiled recently include Zambezi Boutique’s US$1 million investment, and Nkosi Guest Lodge — a multi-million-dollar facility.
In its report last month, AAT said a big bounce back could be on the horizon, sweeping through the industry as early as April, following government’s decision to lift pandemic induced restrictions.
Until now, Zimbabwe’s under fire tourism industry had predicted a longer phase of depression before recovery returns during the tail end of winter; when Covid-19 waves temporarily fizzle out.
AAT, which presides over a string of top end hospitality gems including the world acclaimed Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, said relaxed Covid-19 restrictions came as global airlines trooped back following a frustrating two years characterised by hard lockdowns.
“The activity and forward planning for the region as witnessed by the Africa’s Eden travel show in Victoria Falls, coupled with new airline access and support is immense, making now an incredible time to plan your next trip and travel. Tourism is the fourth pillar of our economy, a significant employer and foreign currency earner, so the easing of these regulations will have further positive impacts on communities, conservation and downstream benefits for the economy,” said AAT.