adminLeonard Ncube Victoria Falls Reporter
TOURISM players in Victoria Falls are distributing water to tourists on their arrival at the airport as part of welcoming and cooling them from the soaring temperatures. As they arrive at the Victoria Falls International Airport, the tourists are given water.
The initiative is being spearheaded by the Department of Immigration, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority who mobilised $9,000.
The programme started on October 1 and will last until the end of next month.
The two months were the peak period for tourist arrivals and the hottest as well.
Hotel Association of Zimbabwe Victoria Falls chapter vice chairman John Gwese said the idea came about as a result of the need to complement government efforts to revive tourism.
“As the private sector, we feel the need to play our part in continuing the service we, as Zimbabweans pride ourselves in.
“Tourism players in Victoria Falls town have re-engaged this initiative and hospitality assistants will be on the ground at the airport for two months to cover the peak tourist season.
“The main responsibilities for the staff members will be to welcome all arrivals to Victoria Falls and hand out a cold bottle of water,” said Gwese who is also the general manager of Azambezi Hotel.
Representing tour operators, Wild Horizons executive Barbara Murasiranwa said the programme was introduced last year after the realisation that tourists were enduring very hot periods while queueing to have their passports stamped at the ports of entry.
“We’ve revived our Victoria Falls Airport water project again for October and November 2015. A cold bottle of water is making a warm welcome for international arrivals at Victoria Falls Airport and this is aimed at making visitors, who sometimes face long queues at immigration, more comfortable,” she said.
“Where else in the world are you given a complimentary bottle of water as you enter into a country? We’re going to make queueing as comfortable as possible and make it a great welcome into our country.”
Yvonne Jandles, a representative of the business community in Victoria Falls said the initiative was meant to ensure none of the tourists succumbs to dehydration.
“Last year there were a number of incidents when people queued for a long time and we initiated the programme so that we make sure no one faints,” she said.
Those arriving at the border are not enjoying the same service because most of them drive with cooler boxes.
Victoria Falls International Airport is presently undergoing refurbishment after which the airport is expected to handle more than 1, 5 million tourists per year.
The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has called for the involvement of all stakeholders in attracting tourists into the country via the new look $150 million facility, and the Victoria Falls community feels the water project is the starting point.
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