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Post Reporters
MANICALAND was a hive of activity this week as people made final preparations for National Unity Day and Christmas holidays, while players in the tourism and hospitality sector were enjoying brisk business.
Long, winding queues were witnessed in supermarkets, banks, money transfer agencies, food outlets and clothing stores in Mutare, Chipinge and Rusape.
There was also traffic jam as tourists flocked to the Eastern Highlands, while others made their way to rural areas to unwind with their families after a hectic year.
A check by The Manica Post revealed that most tourism and accommodation facilities in the province’s resort areas were fully booked for the festive season, with some of them having registered more than 70 percent room occupancy by Wednesday afternoon.
Most hotel and accommodation facilities in the city, Vumba and Nyanga had also registered an exciting number of walk-in guests to enjoy sumptuous breakfast, lunch or dinner as well as other activities such as swimming, horse riding and merry-making.
The ‘‘ZimBho — Uripi?’’ drive, a domestic campaign recently launched by the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, seems to be yielding the desired results as a number of stay-in and walk-in guests flock the city.
The campaign seeks to encourage locals and the Zimbabwean Diaspora community to travel within the country’s borders this festive season as they partake in various festivities.
Tourism players, hoteliers and shoppers interviewed this week said a perfect and fine weather, rehabilitated roads and stable prices were some of the positive pointers to an exciting festive season.
Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe president, Mr Brian Nyakutombwa, said: “People are visiting the region and staying in different places in Nyanga. They are also visiting different properties in the region. Everyone is witnessing a huge hype, and it is promising to be bigger and better than last year as there has been vigorous domestic tourism campaigns.
“Others are visiting places for dining and drinking as well as staying, horse riding and swimming. There is some exciting hype and I am sure its representing a more exciting festive season.”
Veteran hotelier, Mr Adonis Mutigwe, who has stirred a new accommodation facility, Lennon Quality Hotel situated in the city’s downtown area to dizzy heights, said: “The (ZimBho) campaign naturally raised awareness. There is quite an interest of walk-in guests. It has not really started as we expected, but there is serious interest. For the past few days and weeks, people are coming in especially walk-in guests. We are benefiting because of our location and freshness of the product.”
White Horse Inn’s director, Mr Frank Marembo, said their facility has also lined up some exciting packages.
‘‘We have special packages for our guests, particularly on meals, accommodation and recreational activities, as we aim to promote domestic tourism,” he said.
A shopper, Ms Emily Makoni, who is currently in Zimbabwe for the holidays, said: “It has been my fifth day here in Mutare, and I am enjoying the weather and the plush green vegetation, especially in Vumba. I have noticed that most supermarkets have now priced their products in United States of America dollars,which are also displayed on the shelves as it was confusing to see prices in local currency on the shelves.
‘‘I am happy that police roadblocks have also been minimised. In as much as it is prudent to have law enforcement agents on the roads, the last time I came, they were an inconvenience as they were scattered everywhere, especially on the highways and were causing unnecessary queues and delays.”
Said another visitor, Ms Lyn Tembo: “There is price stability in shops, especially in downtown malls. With my few US dollars, I did not struggle to buy some items at a one-stop shop. I also got a discount on some of the items.
‘‘I am also planning to visit some waterfalls in Vumba, hoping and praying that the roads are now better.”
Ms Jane Mazorodze said they enjoyed good business in their kitchen appliances section. “Customers are buying the high quality products we have here. In a single afternoon, we managed to sell three refrigerators,” she said.
Mr Nish Mudukuti said the introduction of well-structured US-dollar prices has helped customers to budget for this festive season.
“This festive season my family will be spoilt for choice in food, clothes and gifts. A vacation in the towering Mutarazi Falls will be a cherry on top to a beautiful holiday,” he said.
Gogo Miriam Makoni, who was queuing for money at a money transfer agency in Rusape, said: “I have two children abroad who sent me some money and I will definitely have a good holiday. The queue here is long, but they are not prioritising senior citizens like me.”
Agro-dealer, Mr Washington Manyuchi said sales are slowly picking up as farmers are responding to the current rains.
“This Christmas holiday coincided with the start of the rainy season, and people have tough choices on spending on luxury or necessities such as inputs,” he said.
Online Reporter