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The number of tourists visiting the Victoria Falls increased by 23 percent in August

Golden Sibanda Senior Business Reporter
Victoria Falls could now be reaping spin offs of the positive limelight it has received in recent years amid revelations tourists are increasing bed nights with August recording the biggest leap in arrivals.
This follows Zimbabwe’s successful hosting in the tourist resort of two major international conferences within a period of 12 months. Bookings are however still only a third of targeted numbers.

Industry officials said that the popular resort town was now being booked in packages encompassing other leading regional tourist attractions in Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and South Africa.

Marked shift in period of bookings has been noted among organised visits by budget tourists, who use overland trucks. High frequency in these kind of visits ended around 2007 to 2008.

Employers Association of Tourism Operators president Shearwater public relations manager Mr Clement Mkwasi said visitors in August increased by 23 percent compared to August last year.

Mr Mkwasi cited the successful hosting of the 20th Session of United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly in August last year and the 34th Sadc Ordinary Summit of Heads of State among major drivers of increase in visitors to the resort town.

During the hosting of these major events, Vic falls ran out of formal accommodation facilities, which saw tourists booking in private homes, itself a demonstration of their confidence in the resort.

“A combination of these events has resulted in organised tourists booking more nights in Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe in general. At the epicentre of major tourist attractions in Zimbabwe is the Victoria Falls and its riparian vegetation,” Mr Mkwasi said.

Apart from the positive image created by UNWTO general assembly and Sadc Summit, Mr Mkwasi also attributed the growth in arrivals to lifting of travel warnings on Zimbabwe and general peace and tranquillity prevailing in the Southern Africa country.

Further, the use of multi-currency system has put Zimbabwe at par with other leading regional tourist destinations, which has translated into an increased number of bed night bookings in Victoria Falls.

Zimbabwe uses a basket of currencies dominated mainly by the US dollar, but also significantly includes use of the South Africa rand.
“Year in year out, August is (also) generally considered to be a holiday month by visitors to Vic Falls from other countries. Victoria Falls is now part of Southern Africa package,” Mr Mkwasi said.

In the past, Mr Mkwasi said, Victoria Falls would get bookings for three nights at most, but this trend had shifted significantly of late. The target however remains the regional average of 21 nights.

“In Zimbabwe, tourists would only spend three bed nights at most because operators did not package it together with the rest of destinations in Southern Africa, things have shifted significantly,” he said.

This is set to significantly impact Victoria Falls’ and Zimbabwe’s in general with regard to inflows from the tourism sector. Victoria Falls’ appeal could also grow remarkably considering its unique status. It has the highest concentration of tourist activities in the region.