Call for dual tourism pricing

The majority of locals in Victoria Falls for the festive season have been spending time walking around town or swimming in pools at lodges and hotels.
Some tourists have also spent fewer nights in the resort town compared to last year and have blamed this on little spending money.

In separate interviews around lodges and hotels in Victoria Falls last Friday, locals said prices for activities were just too exorbitant and out of reach for them.
“While we appreciate that almost all of these companies are giving discounts this festive season for activities, the amounts still remain too high. For example, going for a bridge swing, bridge slide and bungee jumping costs $160. How many of us can afford that? Worse still we travel as families and for two family members they need $320. It is too much,” said Mr Jeremiah Chikosi from Harare.

According to discounted rates offered by one of the tour and adventure operators, helicopter flight and elephant back safaris cost $240 per person.
Another company was offering lion walk and elephant back safari for $200.
Sunset boat cruise is going for $35 per passenger.

Mrs Ruth Sibanda from Bulawayo said they had been forced to stay at the hotel they were booked in because of the pricing system. “I think it would be proper if there were two rates, one for locals and one for foreigners. Locals, as the owners of the attractions, deserve the right to cheap if not free activities. It is sad to note that there are some locals in Victoria Falls, who are failing to pay entry fee to visit the Victoria Falls Rainforest,” she said.

However, in response, Shearwater Adventures public relations manager, Mr Clement Mukwasi said it was for locals to budget before they travel.

“There is need for proper budgeting before one travels. However, as Shearwater, we have special rates for locals, but they are given on a need basis. If one approaches us and tells us that he or she has such and such an amount and wants to do bungee jumping we accept. We are very particular about locals, they also deserve a chance to enjoy these products,” he said.
Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) president, Mr Tich Hwingwiri said on Tuesday that while the hotels were 100 percent full in terms of room occupancy, the numbers were not relating to activities such as bungee jumping, white water rafting and game drives among other attractions offered in the resort town.