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Patrick Chitumba Victoria Falls Reporter
THE successful co-hosting of the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly by Zimbabwe and Zambia in August last year is the major factor contributing to the upsurge in tourist arrivals in the country during the festive season.
The general assembly, the biggest accomplishment by the Government and the tourism and hospitality sector in 2013, has resulted in renewed interest in the country by regional and international tourists.
“There has been an increase in arrivals especially here in Victoria Falls by tourists from around the word. We are grateful to the Government for hosting the event. The resort town was awash with tourists the whole of the festive season and that translated to more revenue for the tourism sector,” said travel and tourism executive, Clement Mukwasi.
Ben Tesa, managing director, Khanondo Safaris said: “The UNWTO general assembly was a success which is now translating into the success of the tourism sector. What we now need is for the industry to have access to cheap loans and rebate on importation of capital goods and safari vehicles so that we are not found wanting as we anticipate more arrivals in the country.”
Zimbabwe Tourism Council vice-president, Tich Hwingwiri agreed that the high number of arrivals in Victoria Falls was also a result of the successful co-hosting of the general assembly.
“Our festive season started on December 22 last year and most hotels and lodges were hovering around 85 percent. Some went to 90 percent on New Year’s Eve and we appreciate this growth,” he said.
Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe president for Victoria Falls chapter Jonathan Hudson said the future for the sector was very bright as also locals were now keen on visiting tourists attractions.
“The festive season was made of two halves – the Christmas period had more locals while the New Year period had more of regional and international tourists. All these helped in raising arrivals into this destination. The future of the country is very bright,” he said.
The UNWTO General Assembly, the first to be held in Southern Africa, left a lasting impression on the country’s tourism sector with a number of benefits accrued, chief among them the endorsement of the nation as a safe destination.
The tourism indaba was described by UNWTO secretary-general Taleb Rifai as the best assembly in all respects. It gave the world tourism family first hand impression of what Zimbabwe is all about.
The general assembly saw delegates recognising the close linkages between travel facilitation and tourism development as a tool to stimulate sustainable tourism demand. The issue of visa regimes and the need for a one-stop border post system were also discussed during the meeting.
Zimbabwe’s tourism sector, buoyed by the successful hosting of the global event, is poised to earn the country $1, 5 billion by 2015 and contribute close to 20 percent of gross domestic product helped by the projected increase in tourist arrivals.
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