Jonathan Mbiriyamveka Senior Reporter
East European tourism traffic to Zimbabwe is finally opening up if the big delegation from Poland is anything to go by. Some 70 Polish tourists visited Zimbabwe between August 21-30 at the invitation of Zimbabwe’s ambassador of tourism in Eastern Europe Mr Errol Muzawazi. This was the first ever organised group of tourists to Zimbabwe from Eastern Europe.
The group visited the Great Zimbabwe, Matopos National Park, Hwange National Park and the Victoria Falls as part of their tour.
The Polish tourists enjoyed the Zimbabwean hospitality when they were booked at lodges run  by the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority.
“Zimbabwe is a great country endowed with unparalleled natural beauty. We met very friendly and cordial people and all of us want to come back for longer.
“The only thing needed to boost tourism is reducing formalities and hours of waiting at the Beitbridge border,” said Ela Wiejaczka, leader of the group.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe-Polish Friendship dinner held at the Boma Restaurant to mark the Poles’ arrival to Zimbabwe, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Permanent Secretary Mrs Margaret Sangarwe hailed the Poles, who are European Union members since May 2004 for disregarding negative media publicity in Europe and coming to Zimbabwe with confidence.