admin
Africa Moyo Deputy News Editor
Zimbabwe is increasingly becoming a tourist destination of choice for many respected global personalities, a development that has excited local tourism promoters for its potential to attract more tourists.
Famous people that recently visited Zimbabwe include retired global boxing icon Floyd Mayweather Jr, former Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, US socialite and actor Hilton, US actor Michael Douglas and Scotland national soccer captain John McGinn, who plays and captains premier league side Aston Villa Football Club.
Mayweather Jr was in Harare last week for two days, during his Motherland Tour.
During the visit, he went to Mabvuku high-density suburb where he was welcomed by thousands of people, and on the following day, he met President Mnangagwa at State House.
Mayweather Jr describes Zimbabwe as one of “my homes”, and pledged to support the country in various ways.
Soccer star McGinn and his wife Sarah Stokes were in Zimbabwe towards the end of June, at the invitation of former teammate Marvelous Nakamba.
Nakamba joined Luton Town on a three-year deal on Thursday, after sparkling during his loan spell from January.
McGinn had a time to remember as evidenced by the pictures of the couple smiling on a game drive and other activities in Victoria Falls.
He described his experience as “unbelievable”.
The latest high-profile personality to visit Zimbabwe is British billionaire, Sir Richard Branson.
He says he had a “glorious few days” in Zimbabwe, viewing lions, leopards, elephants and baobab trees.
And their hearts were probably beating at a faster rate than usual as they were canoeing, fearing that hippos and crocodiles could upend their canoe.
Sir Richard’s visit started on June 30 when he arrived through the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare.
He came aboard a fastjet flight and spent nearly two weeks in the country, with some of the days spent while enjoying Zimbabwe’s tourist attraction centres.
The billionaire, who founded Virgin Atlantic Airways, is also a commercial astronaut.
Sir Richard founded the Virgin Group, which now controls over 400 companies in various fields.
The recent visit, at the invitation of his long-time friend, Mr Tim Evans who used to be the late Queen Elizabeth’s doctor, was not his first in Zimbabwe.
Posting on his website on July 13, Sir Richard said: “Many years ago, when Holly and Sam were kids, my family had the pleasure of travelling down the Zambezi River. Mum and dad came along – and we even managed to get Joan in a canoe!
“It was an extraordinarily beautiful trip, going through the Mana Pools and seeing some incredible wildlife.
“I was recently invited by Tim Evans, a lifelong friend who used to be the Queen’s doctor, to repeat the trip. He has always been passionate about protecting wildlife and spent a lot of time in Zimbabwe when he was younger.”
Added Sir Richard: “It was delightful joining Tim and his son Wilf, my sister Vanessa, my daughter-in-law Isabella, and a wonderful group of conservationists to camp and canoe down the magnificent river.
“We had to watch out for enormous crocodiles, buffalo, and hippos that could accidentally tip over our canoes. Thankfully, we had brilliant guides.
“The wildlife in the area is spectacular, from lions to leopards and elephants. We were fortunate to see many of the gentle giants on the trip, and see the sterling work the Zambezi Elephant Fund is doing to protect them.”
The group also visited Wilderness Destinations Ruckuomechi Camp, which is part-owned by The Rise Fund, a group committed to social and environmentally-positive investments that Sir Richard said he is “proud to be a founder of”.
“It was a glorious few days, surrounded by magnificent baobab trees, and great to see The Rise Fund’s work in action.
“At night, it was great fun sharing stories in the wilderness. We reminisced about camping in Zimbabwe with my parents, particularly about a dream dad told me about when we last visited,” said Sir Richard.
He thanked Tim, John and Nicci Stephens, James Egremont-Lee and everyone who helped organise the trip.
Sir Richard also saluted the Zambezi Elephant Fund for “their important conservation work”.
In a recent interview, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Ms Winnie Muchanyuka said they “always welcome visits to Zimbabwe by prominent people and celebrated individuals”.
“Their influence and reach forms a captive market for future visitors to Zimbabwe.
“It is our sincere hope that as Zimbabweans interact with them and as they see the beautiful sites of our country, we leave an unforgettable impression upon them and that they share their experiences of their visit to Zimbabwe within their sphere of influence,” said Ms Muchanyuka.
The tourism sector is on a rebound following the travel restrictions occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic from late 2010 to last year.
The World Health Organisation has since declared that Covid-19 is no longer a global health emergency, and people are beginning to travel again.
Zimbabwe launched a tourism recovery and growth plan in 2020, which seeks to grow the sector to a US$5 billion sector by 2025.
The Second Republic, which is led by President Mnangagwa, has a policy of engagement and re-engagement, which is aimed at mending relations with those countries that had cut ties with Harare over the years for various reasons.
The policy is also aimed at deepening relations with countries that retained good communication lines with Zimbabwe when some, especially in the West, were imposing sanctions following the Land Reform Programme.
It is expected that the foreign policy that Zimbabwe is a “friend to all and enemy to none”, will help boost tourist arrivals going forward.
Online Reporter