Tourist arrivals up 49pc

Several foreign airlines suspended flights into the country between 1998 and 2008 due to economic challenges induced by illegal sanctions, which contracted the economy by 50 percent.

Among them were Austrian Airlines, Swiss Air, Air India, Air France and TAP Air Portugal, Air Mauritius, Linhas Aereas de Mocambique Airline, Royal Swazi Airlines, Air Seychelles, Air Tanzania, Ghana Airways, Air Uganda and Air Cameroon.

But there has been renewed interest in Zimbabwe among foreign airlines since 2010 after the adoption of the multi-currency system which stabilised the economy. The airlines include Dubai-based Emirates Airlines, Air Namibia, Air Egypt, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, LAM Airlines. Air France, Austrian Airlines, Swiss Air and Bulgarian Airlines.

Qantas and Lufthansa have also expressed interest in flying to Zimbabwe. The ZTA statistics show that air travellers into the country increased from 36 373 in 2010 to 54 097 this year. The 2013 arrivals are for three months to March.

Compared with the previous quarter of 2012, arrivals were up 8 percent from 50 081. Arrivals by air and road increased 17 percent last year to 404 282 from 346 299 in 2011.

“There has been a general increase in arrivals by air over the past (two years), thanks to the new airlines that came into this destination over the last two years,” said ZTA.

“However, 2013 has seen a decline in the market share of air travel from 14 percent in 2012 to 13 percent, losing a percentage point to road users. This is especially so considering that most arrivals into the country are regional and these usually travel by road.

“With improved air access, Zimbabwe is projecting tourist arrivals will grow 4 percent next year,” the ZTA said.

Overall tourist arrivals into the country increased by 17 percent, rising to 404 282 in the first quarter of this year. The number of tourists from Europe and the rest of Africa rose 8 percent and 86 percent, respectively, while Oceania and the Middle East did not have significant numbers of tourists visiting the country.

The country co-hosts with Zambia the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly in August and this presents an opportunity to work on the perception the world has on the country.