adminBusiness Correspondent
TOURISM and hospitality players in the Eastern Highlands have welcomed the ranking of Zimbabwe among the top 50 must visit tourist destinations in the world by the well respected American newspaper, The New York Times. Zimbabwe was ranked 14, beating African countries like Tanzania, popular for its Serengeti National Park and neighbouring South Africa with its Cape Town beaches.
The director of White Horse Inn in Vumba, Mr Franky Marembo said the international recognition of Zimbabwe’s tourism was long overdue.
He said the country had for long been tarnished by politics despite being a peaceful country with many breathtaking tourist attractions countrywide.
“I feel we are heading in the right direction and the region has the potential to contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product under the $5 billion tourism target by 2020.
“From the time when Government opened dialogue with the international community on the removal of sanctions, we have seen a lot of changes, especially last year.
“Our tourist arrivals in Zimbabwe were on the increase and we also hosted a number of international conventions,’’ he said.
Added Mr Marembo: “So this recent acknowledgement by the New York Times is just the right affirmation we needed to rebrand our tourism sector as we work towards the $5 billion target.”
Tourist arrivals in Zimbabwe maintained an upward trend in 2014, surging to two million foreign visitors from 1.8 million the previous year.
The Eastern Highlands had many spectacular places to visit in Nyanga, Vumba and Chimanimani, but these needed more marketing by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
Apart from the traditional attractions in the region like Mutarazi Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Nyangani Mountain, there were other interesting attractions in the region that could be marketed like bird watching in Vumba, relaxing holiday cottages in Vumba and Nyanga and scenic world views in Vumba, Mutare and Nyanga.
“The Eastern Highlands has more to offer which the ZTA is not fully exploiting. “There is need for a stakeholders meeting with the ZTA to look for ways to rebrand and market the region as a tourism hub,” said Mr Marembo.
Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe national vice-chairman and executive chairman of Inns of Zimbabwe, Mr Gordon Adams welcomed the recent recognition by the New York Times.
He however said this was also a wakeup call for Government to step up investment towards tourism as a potential economic booster for the GDP.
“This is what we have been shouting out to Government as players in the tourism industry. We however need assistance to get more international recognition especially on road infrastructure networks.
“The road to Vumba is now in a very bad state which is bad for tourism. I am always on record for lobbying of direct flights to Mutare to cater for tourists that would want to visit from Victoria Falls or Harare after conferences.
“But this will only be possible if the Mutare aerodrome is refurbished or if the Grand Reef Airport is demilitarized,” said Mr Adams.
The Eastern Highlands which is famous for its scenic mountain ranges, pique woodlands, breezy weather, remarkable botanical gardens, and home to several hotels, lodges and holiday cottages used to enjoy brisk business from tourists in the 1990’s. HAZ national chairman, Mr Tamuka Macheka said with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation blueprint in place hope was still there to rebuild the country’s tourism sector.
He said a united front was however needed by all players in the industry, but above all Government support would be the linchpin, especially through ZTA for rebranding and marketing tourist attractions countrywide.
Last year Zimbabwe received the 2014 World best tourism destination and the World favourite cultural destination awards presented by the European Union Council on Tourism and Trade.
This was viewed by analysts as an indication of greater fortunes to come for the country’s tourism and hospitality industry.
The recent recognition by the New York Times in so doing becomes another international achievement sending a positive signal on the potential Zimbabwe’s tourism has.
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