Vic Falls hotels 80pc booked

Patrick Chitumba Business Reporter
HOTELS and some lodges in the resort town of Victoria Falls are at 80 percent full for the festive season, hoteliers said.
With a few weeks to go before the country joins the rest of the world in celebrating Christmas Day and the New Year, the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) said most hotels and lodges were recording an increase in room occupancies.

HAZ chairperson for the Victoria Falls charter, Jonathan Hudson said bookings were positive for them going into 2014.

He said the majority of visitors would be locals and Zimbabweans living in the Diaspora who will be travelling with their families.

“We have the Christmas period which is highly a local affair with locals leading in bookings and then we have the Victoria Falls carnival at the end of the year and this is attracting a lot of young couples from the region,” he said

“There has been intensive advertising by various hotels which initiated various incentives to attract more clients.”

Travel and Tourism Executive, Charles Chakanya of Zambezi Explorer said tour operators were busy taking bookings for various activities which include boat cruise, bungee jumping and game viewing, among others, adding that the special rates being offered for locals also attract large numbers.

“We have so far received good bookings from domestic market and bookings are filling up and the people are excited to visit Victoria Falls especially after the successful hosting of the 20th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly which was held in Victoria Falls and Livingstone in August,” he said.

Shearwater Adventures public relations manager, Clement Mukwasi, said the sector was optimistic of the festive season due to the fact that the country had been on the international map following the UNWTO and peaceful harmonised elections held on July 31.

“We are expecting the numbers that have booked in hotels and lodges to also book for outdoor activities.

“This way the hotels and tour and adventure operators all benefit,” he said.