admin
Ngoni Dapira Business Correspondent
DESPITE being recognised as the most breathtaking and scenic area in the Eastern Highlands, Vumba hotel and lodging business has acutely dwindled over the years.In an interview with some of the hotel and lodge directors, Post Business discovered that the once famous tourist destination has lost its grandeur.
Vumba, which is famous for its breezy weather, botanical gardens, pique woodlands and scenic mountain ranges, has several hotels, lodges and cottages which in the past have enjoyed brisk business from foreign tourists and locals.
There are hotels and lodges such as Leopard Rock Hotel, Forest Hills Hotel, White Horse Inn, Brackenridge Resort, Eden Lodge, Inn on the Vumba, Small World Lodge, Seldom Scene Cottages and Kwayedza Lodge to mention a few, that are currently receiving very low occupancy rates and are now struggling to stay afloat.
Kwayedza Lodge managing director Mr William Chatigu said there was need for the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority to strongly market other areas apart from Victoria Falls.
“We understand that we are on a revival path from years of being tarnished as an unsafe tourism destination since the agrarian reform in 2000, but of late the attention is on Victoria Falls, which is already branded.
“There are other attractive areas, especially in the Eastern Highlands, that if well marketed can attract more tourists.
“There is Seldom Scene Cottages here in Vumba, which is known for beautiful bird-watching views, but ZTA should further market such areas,” said Mr Chatigu.
He added that the increase of veld fires in Vumba and poor road infrastructure were also drawbacks which were making Vumba lose its splendour.
He said some of the scenic woodlands were being burnt down while the Mutare-Vumba road was now an eyesore.
“People need to be made aware about the importance of our natural environments. We need to preserve the woodlands and beautiful scenic areas in Vumba.
“Our Mutare-Vumba road is now also an eyesore and if left like that, very soon four-wheel-drive trucks will be the only cars able to navigate their way up to Vumba. The road networks have a heavy bearing especially on domestic tourism,” said Mr Chatigu.
White Horse Inn co-director Mr Frank Marembo also concurred that poor road networks were affecting them, citing the Mutare-Vumba road.
He added that tourists were being intimidated by the many roadblocks along the highways.
“We are also seriously lobbying for the refurbishment of the Mutare airport, which we feel can entice a lot of tourists who do not like driving long distances.
“Direct flights to Victoria Falls proved that they can assist in boosting visitors there, so we hope to see the Mutare airstrip revamped to improve tourism in the Eastern Highlands, which has great potential,” said Mr Marembo.
Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Tamuka Macheka said Vumba was mostly being affected because of the sharp drop in tourist arrivals from South Africa and other African countries in general over the years.
Mr Macheka said Nyanga, Vumba and Masvingo tourism and hospitality industry used to benefit immensely from South African tourists, which is why they have been feeling the pinch of late.
“Over the years since 2000, more than 85 percent of the business for Nyanga, Vumba and Masvingo hotels came from Africa, with the bulk of visitors coming from South Africa.
“In 2014, there has been a major drop of business to about 30 percent from South Africa. In 2010, South Africa was contributing about 70 percent of hotel and tourism business to Zimbabwe, but the 30 percent drop this year means we have shed 40 percent of the South African market.
“This explains why Vumba hotels and lodges have been feeling the pinch lately,” said Mr Macheka.
He said there should be strategies on how to incentivise and revive the South African market.
He, however, added that most of the current major business for hotels in Zimbabwe was from conferencing, of which most hotels in Vumba were too small which disadvantaged them from hosting conferences for large groups of business delegates.
Mr Macheka nonetheless urged the hotels and lodges to remain resilient as Government continues to look for ways to turn around the economy under the economic revival blueprint, Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.
“As HAZ we are aware of the challenges by most hotels and lodges countrywide, especially on paying wages and salaries.
“All we can do for now is remain hopeful and work hard to push for policies and frameworks that will help boost our tourism and hospitality sector,” said the HAZ president.
Online Reporter