Online Reporter
Business Reporter
Zimbabwe’s trophy hunting sector is undertaking a major strategic refocusing, targeting Eastern European countries to develop a more robust and diversified international market, an official said.
Dr Emmanuel Fundira, president of the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ), said the United States had long been the primary source of foreign hunters, but emerging “challenges” necessitate the creation of “additional sources” to safeguard the industry’s viability.
“What we are trying to do; learning from the past, is not necessarily to give up on the Americans, but to create additional sources from the (Eastern European) markets so that we can increase the size of the cake,” Dr Fundira said, emphasising that any potential losses from the American market should be “more than overcompensated by the new development methods in Eastern Europe.”
The new target markets include several former Soviet bloc countries, Poland, Hungary and Slovenia.
Dr Fundira also noted that Ukraine remains a potential market, but is currently problematic due to the ongoing war with Russia.
The safari industry, a sub-sector of the tourism and travel industry, has historically focused on overland journeys for observing or hunting wild animals, but has evolved to place a strong emphasis on wildlife conservation and ecotourism.
The industry consists of both consumptive and non-consumptive industries with a common objective of effective utilisation of wildlife resources.
Direct hunting revenue in Zimbabwe is anticipated to generate US$50 million this year, up from US$40 million.
However, the industry’s total projected earnings are double that amount, reaching US$100 million when “downstream” services are included.
The related services, specifically permits, accommodation, and charter services, are expected to contribute the remaining US$50 million in foreign currency.
