‘More hotels needed in Vic Falls’

Addressing the media in Victoria Falls on the sidelines of the Africa Travel Association (ATA) 37th World Congress, he said tourism investment was now a major priority to allow for more investors to provide accommodation.

“Victoria Falls is under-hotelled. We are far below in terms of the available rooms for tourists. In the next five, seven to 15 years the present numbers will be little. We need to invest in accommodation as the tourism industry,” he said.

He said there were slightly over 2 200 rooms in Victoria Falls — a number, he said, was far too low compared to the projected increase in arrivals in the country’s tourism hub.

“If we maintain this level, we will be crying. We need to increase by 1 000 to 1 500 in the next five years.”

Mr Kaseke also said there was a need to invest in night life in the resort town.

Meanwhile, Mr Kaseke said Zimbabwe had broken the ATA record by having the highest number of tourism ministers and delegates attending the 37th congress.

He said there were 13 ministers from countries such as Senegal, Ghana, Central African Republic, Gambia, Chad, Cameroon, Ethiopia and Uganda.

“We are very happy with the development and this is an endorsement of the country after a rough patch that saw arrivals nosedive to as low as 1,2 million tourists from a high of 2,2 million arrivals,” he said.

Mr Kaseke said the country was still second in arrivals in the region after South Africa and was number four on the continent.

ATA executive director Mr Edward Bergman said the organisation had endorsed the country as a place for tourists to come and do business.

Source: ‘More hotels needed in Vic Falls’ (23/5/12)

1 200ha tourism park for Vic Falls

Government has acquired 1 200 hectares of land in Victoria Falls for the construction of a tourism park as the country gears for the United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly meeting next year. Zimbabwe will co-host the world tourism conference -- to be graced by more than 3 000 delegates -- with its northern neighbour Zambia

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi said last week preparations for the event were proceeding smoothly.

Minister Mzembi said several infrastructural developments were in the pipeline.

“We hope that construction work on the theme park will start in June this year on an initial area of about 80 hectares,” said Minister Mzembi.
“The park will house a state-of-the-art convention centre, casinos and shopping malls, among other structures that are aimed at making sure that the next year’s event is a success.”

The UNWTO General Assembly will help Zimbabwe and Zambia, which share the might Victoria Falls, to showcase their tourism potential to an larger international audience expected to grace the event.

Source: 1 200ha tourism park for Vic Falls (06/05/2012)