Zim lines up exclusive lodges plan for Victoria Falls Airport

THE Forestry Commission of Zimbabwe (FCZ) has placed a 300-hectare forest block next to Victoria Falls International Airport on the market, inviting private  investors to develop multimillion dollar eco-lodges and conservancies in one of the country’s most commercially-strategic  tourism zones. 

The land, branded “Airport Lodges” in the commission’s newly-launched  investment prospectus, lies just 20 kilometres from Victoria Falls and within the Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (Kaza).

In its prospectus, FCZ describes the site as a rare opportunity for sustainable, high end tourism investment.

“Located immediately adjacent to Victoria Falls International Airport and only 20km from the world famous Victoria Falls, this 300 hectare block of mature forest presents a rare opportunity for sustainable, high end tourism and conservation development,” the commission said.

“Situated inside the Kaza Transfrontier Wildlife Corridor and within a designated Special Economic Zone (SEZ), the site combines exceptional ecological value with premium access and favourable investment conditions.” 

The site combines premium airport access with strong conservation credentials, placing it at the intersection of international tourism and ecological stewardship.

According to the Airports Company of Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls International Airport handled 463 848 passengers between January and September 2025, a 13,57% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

The rising traffic strengthens the commercial case for airport-proximate hospitality developments.

Victoria Falls remains Zimbabwe’s flagship tourism destination, accounting for roughly 60% of national park entries. 

In 2024, it recorded the highest hotel occupancy rate in the country at 63%, underscoring its dominant contribution to Zimbabwe’s annual tourism receipts, which exceed US$1 billion. 

The commission highlighted the estate's intact forest canopy, scenic diversity and natural buffer zones, positioning it as ideal for low impact, high yield development models.

Although FCZ has not disclosed a projected capital value, the scale, location and infrastructure requirements suggest a multimillion-dollar investment, particularly if developed as a luxury, low density eco-tourism estate targeting high spending international travellers.

Analysts said being located within the Kaza corridor enhances the site’s appeal for wildlife-based tourism and transboundary conservation linkages. Its SEZ status also provides potential economic incentives for investors.

FCZ has outlined several recommended development options, including low density luxury lodges and private villas designed to preserve forest canopy and wildlife movement; responsibly managed game sanctuaries or private conservancies aligned with regional conservation goals; and integrated eco-tourism hubs combining accommodation, guided wildlife experiences, cultural tourism and premium hospitality services.

“This property uniquely marries immediate international access, proximity to one of the planet’s premier natural attractions, and strategic conservation value inside Kaza and an SEZ,” the commission said. 

“It is exceptionally well-suited to development models that prioritise high yield per hectare, ecological integrity, community benefit and long-term brand value.”

The broader tourism recovery has been supported by increased international arrivals and the entry of new airlines into Zimbabwe. The number of airlines servicing the country rose to 22 in 2025, further strengthening Victoria Falls’ connectivity.

In addition to the Airport Lodges project, the commission is marketing Fuller Forest, a 12 000-hectare forest estate also located within the Kaza Transfrontier Wildlife Corridor and approximately 20km from Victoria Falls Town.

FCZ said the estate’s scale, conservation positioning and proximity to the airport make it suitable for high value, conservation-led tourism and mixed use investment.

Proposed opportunities at Fuller Forest include luxury airport-proximate lodges and boutique resorts targeting short stay international travellers; gated conservation tourism estates and private conservancies that combine exclusive visitor experiences with habitat protection; mixed use hospitality clusters integrated with game sanctuary management, including safaris and interpretation centres; and regulated, sustainably managed hunting concessions aligned with conservation and community benefit frameworks.

Source: Zim lines up exclusive lodges plan for Victoria Falls Airport (27/02/2026)

Air Zim to review landing rights

Air Zimbabwe has proposed to review its landing rights, particularly for Victoria Falls International Airport, a development which, if successful, will see all international flights into the country being rerouted to Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport from Victoria Falls and Bulawayo.

The airline, which was placed under reconstruction last October, is looking to set up the RGM as a regional hub.

“We are mulling to review our landing rights for all international flights. Our thinking is, as we develop Harare (the RGM International Airport) into a hub, currently we have other airlines flying direct into Victoria Falls, into Bulawayo.

“We are thinking these should fly into Harare and allow us to distribute all those passengers around Zimbabwe. By so doing we are effectively creating our own hub,” he said.

Victoria Falls Airport is currently directly accessible from that city through the fifth freedom rights arrangement to all the major airline networks,” said assistant administrator Tonderayi Mukubvu.

The fifth freedom allows an airline to carry revenue traffic between foreign countries as a part of services connecting the airline’s own country. It is the right to carry passengers from one’s own country to a second country, and from that country onward to a third country and so on.

However, Air Zimbabwe administrator Reggie Saruchera of Grant Thornton says the direct accessibility of Victoria Falls Airport works against the airline’s long-term goal of setting the RGM International Airport as a regional hub.

“Yes, we had not capacitated our airline, and it was good wisdom for the Government at that time to let them just go straight and land at Victoria Falls, there was no choice.

“But now, once we have capacitated our airline we can then begin to run all our Harare to Bulawayo, Harare to Victoria Falls, Victoria Falls to Harare, and then the international airlines can come and connect from RGM. We then create the kind of hub that South Africa is creating,” he said.

Since the completion of Victoria Falls Airport’s refurbishment in 2016 in tandem with the granting of the fifth freedom, international and regional airlines have added over 80 000 seats to Victoria Falls. And there are downstream benefits for hotels and lodges in the resort town in terms of improvement in their room occupancy and bookings for the various activities.

Mr Saruchera believes the benefits can be even wider if RGM International Airport becomes the hub.

“South Africa’s OR Tambo International Airport, for example, currently handles around 55 200 people a day. You can imagine a person spending a dollar or two a day if they are 55 200 of them, the impact that it will have on the economy even when the airline makes huge losses. But it will only work when the airline has appropriate aircraft,” he said.

But then Zimbabwe is signatory to the Yamoussoukro Decision.

The Yamoussoukro Decision was a treaty that allowed for open skies among most African countries. The decision was endorsed by 44 members of the African Union in 1999, and became binding in 2002.

The treaty grants fifth freedom transit rights between all of its signatories. It also sought to eliminate restrictions on ownership of airlines and frequency limits on international routes between signatory states. The practical implementation and application of its policies, however, faced a number of setbacks and was not completed by all African Union members. And in 2018, the Single African Air Transport Market was launched with the intent of fully implementing the Yamoussoukro Decision.

Air Zimbabwe executive manager for airline systems and administration Captain Harry Madangure, says some airlines in the region are not in strict adherence to the open skies policy and that a modicum of protection is required for the national airline.

“We are signatories to this Yamoussoukro Decision, which allows fifth freedom rights to carriers within Africa, so we can go and say we want to fly between Johannesburg and Durban, we actually have our airline flying those routes,” he said.

“But in reality even though South Africa is a signatory if we try and do that you will find that there are a lot of stumbling blocks. It will take even five years before we are granted those rights, but with Zimbabwe we just opened up, there was no protection of the national carrier and that needs to be revised.”

Source: Air Zim to review landing rights (16/6/19)

New Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe overwhelmed by Visitors

The recently-commissioned $150 million Victoria Falls International Airport has insufficient capacity to meet burgeoning air traffic demands, spurring a problem of congestion and delays.

As traffic continues to grow with airlines jostling to introduce direct flights to Victoria Falls, the problem is worsening.

This issue has become a major concern of airport authorities and innovative means of accommodating the ever increasing airline traffic are being sought.

Zimbabwe Immigration Department principal director Clemence Masango said immigration officials were having a torrid time containing traffic as the airport’s arrivals section was too small to contain the deluge of visitors.

The airport was refurbished at a cost of $150 million. The airport’s expansion began in February 2013 and was carried out by a Chinese firm China Jiangsu International Group through a concessionary loan by the China Export and Import Bank. It was commissioned in November 2016.

It had been expected to smoothly handle around 1, 5 million passengers annually up from 500 000, but is now struggling to contain the huge volume of traffic.

This comes after BAComair is now operating larger aircraft on the Joburg-Vic Falls route, and over the coming months will be offering double daily flights on several days of the week.

The BAComair daily schedule is operated by a B737-800 aircraft, which accommodates 162 passengers in a business and economy configuration. The airline is also licensed to operate these three additional services per week year-round as required, should there be demand.

South African Airways is operating an Airbus A330-200 with 222 seats, which is 88 seats more than their previous aircraft capacity.

In addition, Victoria Falls has new airlines servicing the destination, namely Ethiopian Airways and Kenya Airways, linking Victoria Falls to North and East Africa. Both airlines have their own hubs and networks for better connections and packaging.

Kenya Airways fly on from Victoria Falls to Cape Town, creating a much-needed route linking the three iconic African destinations of Cape Town, Victoria Falls and Kilimanjaro.

The latest arrivals into Victoria Falls Airport are SA Airlink, offering the Cape Town to Victoria Falls route six days a week, and Fastjet, which has now added Johannesburg to Victoria Falls three times a week to their schedule.

In the domestic air space, Air Zimbabwe and Fastjet are now both operating 7 days a week, which has been a boost for domestic tourism.

As a result, tourism players had raised complaints about the airport capacity chaos at a tourism briefing last Friday.

“We are aware of this complaint. We are doing our best with what is there,” Masango said, adding he had engaged the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe to find a solution.

“I want to point out that although that airport is new, the plan was not drawn yesterday. The plan was done many years ago and when it was developed, I think close to 20 years later, many things were not right.

“That arrival hall, many of you travel around the world, that arrival hall is far from being an arrival hall. In other airports, it’s just a lounge. It cannot take more than 600 passengers.

“And that’s the nature of the volumes we deal with. Three planes if they come fully loaded carrying on average 200 passengers, that’s 600, we can’t sustain. And that’s why you see some passengers spilling onto the tarmac. Then any inconvenience experienced by travellers is naturally directed at immigration.”

Amid the airport chaos, hotel operators in Victoria Falls are reporting better-than-expected profits and raising their earnings forecast for the year, helped by a boost in business travel following the commissioned $150 million international airport.

Victoria Falls hotels’ occupancy levels are ranging in the “high nineties” (90 percent) since government commissioned the $150 million international airport. Apart from the falls, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya or “Smoke That Thunders”, Zimbabwe can offer safari hunting, some of Africa’s largest game reserves, scenic resorts and the ancient Great Zimbabwe ruins, one of the most important archeological sites on the continent.

New businesses are opening across the industry in the region, with new lodges, hotel rooms, restaurants, bars, and new activities, all of which combine to enhance the draw of the destination, which is a hub for Hwange, Matobo Hills, the rest of Zimbabwe and the Kaza (Kavango Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area) region.

Kaza, which is made up of five southern African countries, boasts some of the most pristine and diverse wildlife areas left on the planet.

Source: New Victoria Falls Airport in Zimbabwe overwhelmed by Visitors (22/01/18)

Victoria Falls International Airport Has the Capacity to Welcome More Airlines

Victoria Falls International Airport has significant capacity to welcome more flights, And the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe is working towards a greater spread of arrival times with carriers to limit peak congestion times for passenger handling, a tourism industry leader says.

Africa Albida Tourism (AAT) chief executive Ross Kennedy said the tourism industry in Victoria Falls is working very closely with all of the public sector departments and ministries to ensure that this demand is matched by service delivery enhancements.

"This includes latest software systems for immigration to accelerate visa processing at Victoria Falls Airport, more immigration desks and officers at Kazungula, and similar such initiatives," Kennedy said.

"Victoria Falls Airport is certainly starting to play its role as a regional tourism hub and the varied routes available now make it an obvious southern Africa itinerary access point," he said.

"With Zimbabwe being widely tipped by the international tourism industry and mainstream media, as one of THE hot destinations for 2018/19 and beyond one can certainly see more long haul airlines eyeing Victoria Falls as a new route."

There was an 18.5 per cent increase in hotel occupancy in Victoria Falls in 2017 compared to 2016, with an additional 35,730 rooms sold across ten hotels, which together have 1,125 rooms available per night and measure arrivals monthly. A surge in December 2017 saw this year on year increase rise to 24 per cent for the month.

"These growth rates in key ratios are way in excess of regional industry norms, and add substantial weight to the fact that Victoria Falls is back and the future is looking very bright," Kennedy said.

Reports from industry colleagues reflect occupancies from January to April this year compared to the same period last year, are up by 30 per cent in advance bookings, he said.

"This is extremely positive news as the first quarter is usually the poorest business period in the destination," Kennedy said.

The new $150 million Victoria Falls International Airport, enabling long haul wide-bodied aircraft to land, was opened in 2016 and has since welcomed three new international airlines to the destination, while existing ones have increased capacity.

Source: Victoria Falls International Airport Has the Capacity to Welcome More Airlines (18/01/18)

New U.S.$150 Million Victoria Falls Airport Not Fit for Purpose - Official

When the new $150 million Victoria Falls Airport - funded (through a loan) and built China - was commissioned, the Harare government hyped the fact that it could accommodate the world's biggest planes.

However, it has now turned out that, while the new terminal can accommodate larger aircraft, it apparently has no room for the passengers.

An immigration official last week told tourism executives that, by the time construction started, the airport design was actually 20 years too old.

The project had been conceived several years in advance, but when funding was eventually secured and the first brick laid, the designs were not revised.

"I want to point out that, although the airport is new, its plan was not drawn yesterday.

"It was done many years ago and when it was then developed I think close to 20 years after and many things were not revised," immigration department principal director, Clemence Masango, told a tourism meeting in Harare last week.

The department has reportedly been struggling to handle the increased visitor numbers, resulting in tourists spending spells in queues that often stretch outside the airport terminal.

Concerned about the adverse impact on business, the tourism industry has demanded action, accusing the immigration of incompetence.

However, Masango said it was not the department's fault. Facilities at the airport were just not fit for purpose, he explained.

"That arrivals hall, I think most of you travel a lot; in other airports (a facility like that would) just a lounge," said the immigration officer.

"That hall is far from being a hall; it cannot take 600 passengers and, at times, is the nature of the volumes that we deal with.

"If three planes come fully loaded and they bring on average 200 people, the hall cannot fit in 600 people at once, that is why you see some passengers spilling to the tarmac."

The airport was commissioned by former President Robert Mugabe in November 2016.

Speaking at the event, the veteran leader said the new terminal could accomodate1,500 000 passengers per year, up from 500,000 before the multi-million-dollar revamp.

"This development indeed signifies exciting times ahead for our aviation and tourism sectors. The upgrading of the airport paves way for Victoria Falls Town to become a tourist hub for Zimbabwe, SADC and the rest of the continent," he added.

Source: New U.S.$150 Million Victoria Falls Airport Not Fit for Purpose - Official (17/01/18)

Zimbabwe: Elephant calves captured in Hwange exported to China via Victoria Falls Airport

China has reportedly imported more than 30 wild caught elephant calves from Zimbabwe in a controversial if not cynical move which took place on the very day China banned the sale of ivory.

31 wild elephants recently captured in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe have been airfreighted abroad, according to Zimbabwean government sources official who has asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal. The shipment was confirmed by the Zimbabwean Conservation Task Force.

The elephants are very young, between the ages of 3 and 6. Two of them are particularly fragile: One female calf is struggling to stand and has open sores on her body; she has been weak since she was captured. Another elephant, noticeably small, "is quiet and reserved. When approached by other elephants, she moves away. She is suffering from trauma and is possibly being bullied," the official says.

The elephants were captured from Hwange on August 8 and footage of the operation was secreted to reporters. The Guardian published the explosive video footage, which showed captors repeatedly kicking a five-year old female elephant in the head.

Ethiopian Airlines shipped the animals on Friday, according to photos sent to reporters from Zimbabwe. The animals are presumably in or on their way to China: Zimbabwe has sent at least three known shipments of wild caught elephants to China since 2012. Last year, one of the elephants died during transport.

According to Chunmei Hu, an advocate at the Freedom for the Animal Actors organization, two zoos - Chongqing Safari Park and Daqingshan Safari Park - are awaiting elephants, based on Chinese media reports. 

International trade in live elephants is legal, however it is increasingly being debated at the highest level. 


At a recent CITES meeting in Geneva, representatives from the African Elephant Coalition - a group of 29 African nations that represents 70 percent of the elephants' range - raised serious concerns at the trade. Ali Abagana, speaking for the delegation of Niger, told the conference that their country is "concerned about the plight of African elephants, including juvenile animals, captured and sent to captive facilities outside of the species' range." 
The CITES Secretariat consequently tasked a working  group of nations and NGOs to debate the parameters of the live trade in elephants, which exists against a backdrop of poaching that has seen a third of Africa's elephants wiped out in the past decade.  The working group is being chaired by the United States and includes among others: Ethiopia, Kenya, China, the hunting lobby group, Safari Club International (SCI), animal welfare organizations including Humane Society International (HSI), World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) and American Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). . 

While the working group deliberates more concerns been raised about the ethics of capturing wild animals for permanent captivity. 

Peter Stroud, the former curator of the Melbourne Zoo from 1998-2003 who was involved in sourcing elephants from Thailand, calls moving wild caught animals to zoos is "unconscionable." 

"There is now abundant evidence that elephants do not and cannot thrive in zoos," Stroud says. "Young elephants will never develop naturally as socially and ecologically functioning beings in zoos.  They will face a very long and very slow process of mental and physiological breakdown resulting inevitably in chronic physical and mental abnormality, disease and premature death." 

The capture of wild elephants for permanent captivity is illegal in South Africa.

Ed Lanca, Chairman of the Zimbabwean NSPCA, echoes Stroud's views: "There is no sound basis for the removal of wild caught baby elephants to facilities that are ill equipped nor prepared to provide adequate long-term care for these animals. At all times, the welfare of these animals must remain paramount said Lanca. 


Lanca argues that Chinese tourists should instead be encouraged to visit Zimbabwe and "experience these majestic animals in their natural environment. Zimbabwean animals belong to the nation and must be protected.  Wildlife remains our heritage."

The Zimbabwean Conservation Task Force documented the transport on its Facebook page, along with photos of the trucks and crates the elephants were shipped in. At the end of its post, ZCTF wrote, "We would like to thank everyone who tried to assist in stopping this terrible event from taking place but unfortunately, we have failed yet again."

CITES officials in Zimbabwe were asked to comment on the export. At the time of this writing, there was no response.

Source: Elephant calves exported from Zimbabwe as China bans ivory trade (02/01/18)

More from this blog: 35 elephants captured from Hwange on a 'Flight to Hell' (27/12/16)

See also: Exclusive footage shows young elephants being captured in Zimbabwe for Chinese zoos (03/10/17) The Guardian, UK
The problem with Zimbabwe’s plan to pay off its decades old debt to China with elephants (09/01/17)
Zimbabwe denies exporting wild animals to China to repay debt (28/12/16)
Zimbabwe ships live elephants to wildlife parks in China (26/12/16)

Grace Mugabe 'Pays Military Debt to China With 35 Zim Jumbos' (26/12/16)

Zimbabwe ships live elephants to wildlife parks in China (23/12/16)

Further Reading (from this blog): Zimbabwe vows to export elephants despite criticism, seeks cash for conservation (07/05/15)
80 elephant calves captured from wild as Zimbabwe goes ahead with export plans (10/02/15)
Zimbabwe to sell excess elephants (08/01/15)
Zimbabwe’s baby elephants getting sold to China zoos (28/11/14)

Photo source: Zimbabwe’s Reported Plan to Export Baby Elephants Raises Outcry Against Animal Trade (17/12/14)

Zimbabwe National Elephant Management Plan (2015-2020) 

Vic Falls Airport passenger traffic up 28pc

The US$150 million facelift of Victoria Falls International Airport, to allow it to handle wide-bodied aircraft, is already paying dividends in the resort town amid indications that passenger traffic has grown by 28 percent between January and October this year compared to the same period in 2016.

Statistics obtained from the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) show that from January to October, 284 330 passengers touched down at the Victoria Falls airport compared to 222 967 in the first 10 months last year.

This comes as three international airlines – Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways and South African Airlink – introduced flights into the resort town between March and July this year. Ethiopian Airlines flies into Victoria Falls from Addis Ababa four times a week while Kenyan Airways plies the Nairobi-Victoria Falls-Cape Town route three times a week.

South African Airlink also flies into Victoria Falls from Cape Town six times a week, resulting in huge appetite by air travellers to visit one of the world’s Seven Wonders.

In emailed responses, CAAZ told The Sunday Mail Business that the upgrading of the Victoria Falls International Airport to allow it to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft types and more passenger capacity, has already seen South African Airways upgrading its aircraft equipment from March 1, 2017 to a 222-seater Airbus A330-200. The aircraft replaced the 138-seater A320.

“Consequently, the airport has witnessed a 28 percent growth in passenger traffic from 222 967 during the period January to October 2016 to 284 330 during the same period in 2017,” said CAAZ.

There is stiff competition for tourists between Zimbabwe and Zambia in Victoria Falls. Neighbouring Zambia also commissioned new radar equipment and a new terminal at the Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula (former Livingstone Airport) on December 23 last year, to make the airport more compelling and try to match the improvements at Victoria Falls.

The Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Airport, which claims to be closest to the Victoria Falls, has capacity to process 700 000 passengers per year while the Victoria Falls Airport now has potential to handle 1,6 million passengers. The refurbishment of the Victoria Falls Airport, funded by China Eximbank, also entailed construction of a new four-kilometre runway.

Chairperson of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Victoria Falls chapter Mr Christopher Svovah told The Sunday Mail Business that the surge in passenger arrivals has translated to a 59 percent rise in hotel occupancy levels from January to November 30,                                                                2017.

“Indeed, passenger arrivals have gone up in 2017 from 2016 mainly due to the new Victoria Falls International Airport that was commissioned in November 2016, which has seen Kenya Airways, Ethiopian Airlines and SA Airlink now landing into Victoria Falls for the first time. And South African Airways managed to put the cherry on the cake by unveiling the Airbus A330, which has a capacity of 222 passengers.

“Then again, in December 2016 the Univisa was launched, which now allows entry or exit of tourists from 65 countries in Group B of the visa regime in both Zimbabwe and Zambia using the visa obtained either side of these two countries.

“All these factors have seen occupancy for the hotels in the destination rising from 48 percent in 2016 to 59 percent in 2017, an 11 percent increase as most of these visitors would need accommodation as they tour the length and breadth of Victoria Falls. We are happy that the issue of destination accessibility and connectivity has finally been addressed,” said Mr Svovah.

In the half year to June 30, 2017, Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) recorded a 2 percent growth in revenue from $11,4 million in 2016 to $11,6 million in 2017 driven by the performance of its two hotels in Victoria Falls. RTG’s two Victoria Falls hotels – A’Zambezi River Lodge and Victoria Falls Rainbow – posted a 13 percent (US$339 000) growth in revenues compared to the same period in 2016.

“This reflects the huge growth potential the region acquired as a result of increased flight seats in Victoria Falls following the opening of the Victoria Falls International Airport in 2016. Revenues from foreign guests continued on an upward trajectory registering a 9 percent growth to $3,8 million from $3,5 million recorded during the comparable period in 2016,” said RTG chairman Mr John Chikura.

Last year, African Sun Limited projected a 40 percent rise in weekly airline seat arrivals into Victoria Falls, spurred by the commissioning of the new airport.

Airline seat arrivals measure the number of passengers carried by airlines. As a result of the commissioning of the airport, Victoria Falls is now connected to major regional capitals such as Lusaka, Luanda, Windhoek, Gaborone, Pretoria and Maputo. A United States luxury and lifestyle travel magazine, Conde Nast Traveller, named Zimbabwe the best destination for travellers to Africa in 2017.

Concerns over pricingDespite the endorsement of the destination, concerns still linger over the pricing regime of the local tourism product. The use of a strong US dollar as a unit of exchange compared to weaker regional currencies, mainly the Zambian kwacha, is eating into the country’s competitiveness.

Reports suggest Zambia is currently the biggest beneficiary of the boom in tourist arrivals. It is understood that tourists stay in Livingstone, Zambia, and only cross the Zambezi River to have a better view of the Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwean side.

On average, bed and breakfast costs US$200 in three to five-star hotels in Victoria Falls, while the charge is between US$45 and US$180 in Livingstone. Prices of food and beverages are also affordable in Livingstone compared to Victoria Falls (Zimbabwe side). Crucially, during this festive season, most hotels and lodges in Livingstone had massive discounts, something that is alien to local businesspeople.

But Mr Svovah said while they occasionally have promotions to attract more visitors, the cost of doing business in the country is higher than its regional competitors.

“A lot of players normally come up with packages and promotions to lure business but you will appreciate the fact that the rates being charged by the players are necessitated by the high costs along the value chain. The rate so charged is a build-up along the whole production process and reducing these would not make the business viable,” said Mr Svovah.

Victoria Falls has the highest capacity both at the airport and in hotels compared to its regional competition – Kasane and Livingstone. Hotels are fully booked and some enterprising hoteliers had to put up tents at their facilities to accommodate some of the tourists.

In Livingstone, most hotels were are also full.

Source: Vic Falls passenger traffic up 28pc (30/12/2017)

More tourists, more exports cheer up Zim

Gold production, exports and tourist arrivals are up in Zimbabwe, giving the struggling economy a much-needed reprieve from foreign currency and cash shortages.

Tourist arrivals were higher in the first half of the year, giving a major boost to the country’s foreign currency receipts. According to a report released by Africa Albida Tourism, the newly upgraded Victoria Falls Airport has increased its capacity by more than 125000 passenger seats a year.

“A sizeable drop in local arrivals has been masked by significant growth in international arrivals on the Zimbabwean side. International tourist arrivals to Victoria Falls rose 17percent in 2016 and have gained an additional 32percent in the first six months of 2017,” the report said. Regional and international airlines that use Victoria Falls include Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, South Africa’s Airlink, British Airways, Air Zimbabwe, South African Airways, Fastjet and Air Namibia.

Fidelity Printers said Zimbabwe’s gold production for the first eight months of 2017 increased 10% to 14.6 tons. Fidelity Printers is a unit of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, which is the country’s sole buyer of gold.

Zimbabwe is eyeing about 24tons of gold this year, and bullion output was about 2.5tons in August, the highest monthly production in this current. “Last month, gold deliveries reached a record high of 2.5tons and exports went up by 17percent,” Jonathan Moyo, a cabinet minister, tweeted.

Zimbabwe is also a significant producer of platinum, nickel, chrome and coal. The government has been battling to contain cash shortages despite the introduction of more bond notes and coins.

Losing ground

The bond currency has been losing ground on the parallel market, with prices going up as 

 businesses factor in the cost of buying hard currency on the informal currency market.

The stronger gold mining performance has been aided by mining firms’ focus on increasing production by restructuring. Mzi Khumalo’s Metallon, which runs four mines in Zimbabwe, has said the restructuring of its business was part of a strategy to increase efficiencies. “As part of this restructuring exercise, each of Metallon’s four operating mines will now operate as separate entities. By making the mines standalone operations, Metallon will increase efficiency,” it said this month.

Source: More tourists, more exports cheer up Zim (26/09/17)

Chaos as Zim bans flights

HUNDREDS of people were yesterday stranded after South Africa’s decision to ban Air Zimbabwe flights due to non-payment of permit fees invited a retaliation by Harare, which ground planes operated by the neighbouring country’s national carrier.

Passengers that were booked on South African Airways (SAA) flights out of Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls Airports failed to travel as scheduled.

Zimbabwe also grounded British Airways flights over the same issue.

The South African Civil Aviation Authority on Friday night grounded the Air Zimbabwe flights after the airlines failed to renew its foreign operators’ permit, together with other documents, which must be on board an aircraft at all times.

Yesterday morning, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) took similar action against SAA, catching travellers by surprise.

Transport minister Jorum Gumbo admitted Air Zimbabwe bosses had slept on duty and failed to renew the permit, but denied charges that Zimbabwe had retaliated.

“There is what is called operator’s licence, which is renewed periodically,” he said.

“So Air Zimbabwe had not renewed its licence and South Africa Airways had also not renewed its own licence.”

SAA said they could not operate Flight SA025 from Harare to Johannesburg at 7am and Flight SA022 , which was scheduled to depart at 10:45am from Johannesburg to Harare, had also been cancelled.

“Every effort will be made to assist all affected passengers and our recovery plans have been activated,” SAA spokesperson Tlali Tlali said.

“SAA is monitoring the situation and will provide updates on a regular basis and when there are developments.”

In Victoria Falls, passengers had to be shuttled to Zambia’s Livingston Airport where SAA planes were now landing and taking off following the standoff.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s Transport minister Joe Maswanganyi will be meeting all aviation entities from the department to discuss the grounding of the Air Zimbabwe aircraft.

“As a result, the South African Civil Aviation Authority has instructed the operator not to take off until such time that there is full compliance with the applicable South African civil aviation regulations and the requisite international aviation standards as set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.”

Maswanganyi apologised for inconveniences that might have been caused to passengers, the department said.

“In the same vein, the minister emphasised that civil aviation safety and security is critical, and all licence and permit holders operating into and within the South African airspace need to comply with the applicable international standards, and the South African civil aviation regulations.”

The Friday flight was set to take off for Harare shortly after 6pm, but was cancelled before then.

President Robert Mugabe and his wife Grace are in South Africa for a Sadc summit. Mugabe’s personal airplane, operated by Air Zimbabwe, is not believed to be affected by the cancellation.

DA shadow deputy minister of Finance, Alf Lees however, disagreed saying the grounding flights, between SAA and Air Zimbabwe, seemed to be due to the diplomatic impasse over the assault charges against Grace.

“Now, it seems that tensions between Zimbabwe and South Africa are mounting, leading to airlines being grounded.”

He called on Finance minister Malusi Gigaba to urgently address “these concerning incidents”.

“The silence from our government on the Grace Mugabe matter has been deafening,” he said.

“The reality is that the South African government has completely mishandled this situation, which is now affecting the operations of the national airline.”

A “red-alert” was issued by police in the event that Grace attempted to cross the SA border after she allegedly assaulted a 20-year-old model in a Sandton Hotel on Sunday.

Air Zimbabwe is operated by Mugabe’s son-in-law, Simba Chikore. 

Source: Chaos as Zim bans SA, British flights (20/08/17)

More:  Air Zim, BA, SAA cleared to fly (20/08/17)

Vic Falls business gets boost from airport expansion

THE expansion of the Victoria Falls International Airport has seen global arrivals increasing by 25 percent in the first half of this year, but industry players say there is need for government to ensure air access to other tourist destinations across the country.

The $150 million Chinese-funded expansion of the Victoria Falls International Airport, completed late last year, has seen more international airlines introducing flights into the resort town.

These include Kenya Airways and Ethiopian Airlines.

South African Airways introduced bigger aircraft on the route.

Kenya Airways, which introduced its flights in May, flies three times a week between Nairobi, Victoria Falls and Cape Town, while Ethiopian Airlines, which came on board later, flies four times a week into Victoria Falls on a route that also includes Gaborone.

“Victoria Falls remains key for us but we are also worried by the numbers into the Eastern Highlands, into Kariba. Accessibility is still an issue. The only way to get to those destinations is by road and there is a lot of work that needs to be done on the state of our roads,” said Zimbabwe Council of Tourism president, Tich Hwingwiri.

Currently, many of the country’s other tourist attractions rely on local tourism for 95 percent of their business because of lack of air access, while Victoria Falls gets 50 percent of its business from international tourists.

The new flights into Victoria Falls have provided a boost to the tourism sector, according to Africa Albida Tourism whose flagship property is the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge.

“There is significantly good news for the industry and for the country. We are starting to feel the impetus of the airport. Already we have a huge number of passenger seats, it’s over a 100 000 airline seats committed to come for the rest of the year,” said Dave Glynn, Africa Albida Tourism chairman.

“During the first six months of the year, international arrivals were up by 25,4 percent, which is really significant,” he said.

The four kilometre runway at the airport can land any wide bodied aircraft.

Glynn said the impact of the airport would be felt even outside the country’s borders.

“Once those volumes start to really arrive it will justify the linkages of the airlines going out from Victoria Falls. Victoria Falls will become a significant hub airport because of its new facilities. That means it will service the region as well as internal Zimbabwe destinations,” Glynn said.

At the moment internal tourism is suffering from lack of air linkages and poor infrastructure.
“You can’t get to Hwange, you can’t get to Kariba. You can’t get to the eastern highlands by air. Those linkages we are sure will come as the volumes rise as the air access increase,” Glynn said.

“What is of interest is that the international visitors increased by 15 percent last year but it wasn’t visible because the local industry had really diminished quite substantially and the reasons given in a survey (commissioned by government) included roadblocks, shortage of cash and difficult economic conditions.

“But the outlook is very strong for Victoria Falls driven by the airport which is a really visionary investment and decision by government,” Glynn said.

The airport was refurbished at a cost of $150 million and has a handling capacity of 1,5 million passengers annually.

Source: Vic Falls business gets boost from airport expansion (03/8/17)