Victoria Falls hotels see modest festive boost

HOTELS in Victoria Falls recorded a modest one percent increase in occupancy over the festive season, underpinned by individual travellers and the diaspora.
This comes despite local travel traditionally driving the holiday rush, particularly for families and couples seeking year-end breaks.
Matabeleland North chairman for the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ), Chiku Mulinde, acknowledged the slight bump from 64 percent occupancy in 2022 to 65 percent in 2023.
“This performance falls slightly short of our anticipated business levels,” he admitted, citing hopes for more substantial growth.
Individual travellers, families supported by diaspora funds, and corporate retreats emerged as the primary drivers.
Mulinde commended the Tourism ministry’s “ZimBho” initiative for boosting domestic tourism, urging them to continue their efforts.
Airlines played a vital role, offering daily flights from key domestic markets like Harare and Bulawayo.
Notably, some families opted to fly in to avoid the “poor state of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road,” Mulinde highlighted.
The condition of this vital road remains a concern for the industry.
“We applaud the government’s rehabilitation efforts,” Mulinde stated, “but speeding up the process is crucial for the destination’s economic well-being.”
Overall, Zimbabwe’s tourism industry is on the upswing, with a 41,9 percent increase in tourist arrivals during the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.
This surge, fuelled by global tourism recovery, improved infrastructure, and proactive marketing, saw 494 878 visitors grace the country’s stunning landscapes.
Neighbouring African countries contributed the bulk of tourists at 344 496, while the Middle East sent the least — 3 232. This positive trend extended to revenue, with tourism earnings jumping 24 percent to US$272,26 million during the quarter.
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