Online Reporter
VICTORIA Falls is the country’s tourism capital.
A visit to Zimbabwe, minus Victoria Falls is not a visit to Zimbabwe. That is why every tourist to our country will, yes, spend time with the Big Five in Gonarezhou and Hwange national parks, visit the Great Zimbabwe Monument and the Eastern Border Highlands, but wrap it all up with the experience of the Falls.
Apart from the “regular” tourist seeking adventure and fun, Victoria Falls is about meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) as well. It is a great venue for that.
Because of the huge amount of traffic it attracts, the city’s infrastructure is under pressure, which makes it not just an attractive tourist destination but also an attractive investment opportunity.
We reported yesterday that Victoria Falls has a deficit of 2 200 hotel beds, that the number of flights into and out of it are trailing demand and that the city does not have a conference venue large enough to accommodate 3 000 guests.
That the Government took the opportunity of a visit by a high-level Qatari delegation recently to detail the investment opportunities the city offers was important. Council officials said due to the high number of conferences held there, accessibility by air is failing to keep pace, suggesting that if Qatar Airways could fly there that could help address that challenge.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Barbara Rwodzi told the visitors that the city needs a larger venue to accommodate as many as 10 000 guests.
Her ministry has 250 hectares already serviced but awaiting investment.
“In there, a number of facilities can be constructed. There is a financial corridor to be put in that land. There is also a commercial corridor to be put in that land. Accommodation across the board. Chalets, lodges. Hotels,” she said.
The tourists included senior representatives of Al Mansour Holdings (Al Monsour), a cash-rich Qatari investment group, which has just snapped up about 20 percent of Invictus Energy which made a huge gas discovery in Mashonaland Central in 2023. Al Monsour has, at the same time, committed to investing $500 million to progress the exploration project to development and later commercial production.
This was the right audience for Victoria Falls City Council and Minister Rwodzi’s messages; thus, we are optimistic that Qatar will add the city on their investment roster. They have the cash; they have the eye for opportunity and potential as their investment in Invictus Energy demonstrates.
But there are many more areas that need investment which other investors, apart from Al Mansour can put their money in so that Victoria Falls can have hotel rooms, conference facilities, transport services and other infrastructure to meet demand.
Bongani Ndlovu