Victoria Falls Hotel bookings decline

Victoria Falls’ average room occupancy level for the Independence and Easter holidays is hovering around 60% with tourism players in the resort town pinning their hopes of improved business on last minute bookings from regional and international tourists.

After recording brisk business during the 2018 Easter and Independence holidays, hoteliers in the country’s premier tourism destination have to contend with subdued bookings as the slow start to the year continues to impact on the sector.

Average room occupancy for the destination, which stood at around 78% for the 2018 Easter holidays, is currently hovering around 60% this year.

Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Victoria Falls Chapter Chairperson, Mr Farai Chimba said despite the decline in bookings compared to last year, the industry remains confident of positive figures going forward to be driven by aggressive marketing and renewed confidence in the destination.

“We have certain days which are filled up but we are seeing an overall decline in occupancy for the period leading up to Tuesday. We are expecting an average room occupancy of 61% for the five days of holidays and still optimistic that last minute bookings will help increase the occupancy level,” he said.

Easter and Independence holidays bookings are traditionally dominated by domestic tourists and due to subdued disposable incomes and fuel challenges, many locals could not travel to the destination.
Some tourism analysts have also attributed the downturn and slow start to the year to the election period in neighboring South Africa which is a key source market for the country.

Despite the subdued bookings, many hoteliers in the resort town are currently running promotions and holiday specials in a bid to entice local tourists and to promote domestic tourism.

Source: Victoria Falls Hotel bookings decline (17/04/19)

Free entry for locals into Victoria Falls

VICTORIA FALLS residents will be allowed free entry into the famed Rainforest on this year’s Independence and Heroes Days as government responds to complaints by locals that they were not benefitting from their God given resource.

While elsewhere, residents benefit from natural resources around them through community share ownership schemes bankrolled by businesses exploiting their resources, the situation is different with Victoria Falls where residents do not benefit directly from the lucrative tourism industry.

Residents have repeatedly appealed to government and authorities for free entry or reduced fees into the Rainforest and game parks.

Two years ago, residents petitioned Parliament demanding to be allowed free entry into the Rainforest.

They said their children were being disadvantaged and failing in school yet the Rainforest is closer to them because they cannot afford entry fees into the area.

It costs $7 for locals to enter the Rainforest and US$20 for those from the Sadc region.

Last week, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority hiked entry fees for locals to $20, a move which was immediately reversed by Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira following an outcry.

Speaking in Victoria Falls during the week, Minister Mupfumira said government was working on packages for Victoria Falls locals to benefit from the resources around them.

“I resisted increase to parks fees and even threatened the Zimparks director general because these fees are too high for locals. We are carrying an exercise to slash fees and we will be giving free entry for locals during the independence holiday and even the heroes day holidays,” she said.

The minister said free entry will also be extended to citizens above 80 as well as school children.

She said the country cannot not afford to thumb suck because it is losing business in Victoria Falls to Livingstone in Zambia and Francistown in Botswana where charges are much cheaper.

Speaking at a meeting with the minister last week in Victoria Falls, residents reiterated their demands for special packages.

Fortunate Mugwaha of Pride Africa Safaris said locals should be allowed to benefit from tourism because that is their heritage.

Schools across the country visit Victoria Falls for a tour of resorts and residents believe local schools should be afforded the opportunity to enter the Rainforest free of charge.

Even other activities such as rafting, bungee jumping, canoeing, and game drives among other are way beyond reach of ordinary citizens and locals can only watch as those with money from across the country and internationally enjoy.

Source: Free entry for locals into Victoria Falls (13/04/18)

Wild Horizons to introduce new boat for Zambezi sunset cruises

 In July, Wild Horizons will host dinner cruises on the Zambezi River, aboard a new double-decker boat, the Malachite.

The boat can accommodate up to 32 passengers, who will experience some of Zimbabwe’s beautiful birdlife and wildlife while cruising along the river and through some of its channels, against the backdrop of what are often called ‘Africa’s most famous sunsets’.

A three-course dinner will be served, along with cocktails and other beverages, where the guest experience the transition to evening as they cruise beneath the stars.

Guests will be transferred from their hotels from 16h30, with the cruise departing from the Wild Horizons jetty at 17h00. The experience takes approximately three hours, arriving back at the dock at 20h00.

Source: Wild Horizons to introduce new boat for Zambezi sunset cruises (12/04/21)

Safari tourists harm elephants’ health and make them violent, researchers find

Tourists on safari are damaging elephants’ health, scaring them, stressing them out and making them more violent towards people and each other, new research says.

Herds retreat from where they are resting or feeding when groups of tourists turn up in jeeps and take photographs.

And elephants are more likely to be aggressive to other group members when large numbers of people are nearby, the 15-month study in South Africa found.

Lead author Isabelle Szott, of Liverpool John Moores University, said aggression in elephants rose in parallel with tourist pressure, with males more prone than females.

“Tourists who wish to observe animals in their natural habitat should be aware of their potential negative effects on animal welfare.

“Research should investigate best practice standards to minimise such negative effects,” Ms Szott said.

Observing elephants in the wild has become increasingly popular with holidaymakers as awareness has started to grow of the cruelty of riding the animals.

Captive elephants trained with hooks to give rides or perform tricks often develop post-traumatic stress.

Tourism chiefs say the income from the safari industry protects elephants and their habitats. 

Last year a German tourist was trampled to death by an elephant as she tried to photograph it in Zimbabwe.

The woman was in a group of tourists who encountered a herd in Mana Pools National Park.

In 2017, a trained elephant was shot dead after fatally trampling a tour guide in Zimbabwean tourist resort Victoria Falls.

Another local man was killed in a separate incident after trying to drive elephants into the open to take pictures.

A trend for taking selfies with wild elephants in the eastern Indian state of Orissa has also led to a series of fatal attacks. Officials believe such incidents are on the rise.

Other people have suffered serious injuries while taking selfies with elephants.

Earlier studies have found wildlife tourism causes fear, alertness, aggression, vigilance and stress behaviour in animals including rhinos.

Ms Szott, whose research was published in the Journal of Zoology, said elephants at waterholes could experience frustration and stress, as well as being targeted by other herd members, increasing the risk of aggression towards people in vehicles.

“We suggest a consistent minimum distance from the nearest individual, especially upon first approach, should be introduced to guidelines for wildlife viewing to alleviate the potential for conflict,” she said. 

Audrey Delsink, head of wildlife for Humane Society International/Africa, told The Independent: “Stress can be caused to animals if the guide or tourists approach too close to the elephants, coming between females and calves or cutting off exit routes, and it’s that sort of irresponsible behaviour on the part of people that encourages negative responses in elephants.

“Wildlife tourism should not in itself cause an issue if conducted according to strict codes of conduct regulating how elephants should be viewed, such as safe-distance observation.”

Source: Safari tourists harm elephants’ health and make them violent, researchers find (20/03/19)

Victoria Falls mall ready to open

ZIMRE Property Investment (Zimre) has completed construction of its $13 million shopping mall in Victoria Falls with the facility set to be opened to the public by the end of this month, an official has said.

“The official opening will be at the end of this month on the 26th. Everyone is busy at the moment trying to finish off whatever needs to be finished off, but we should be able to start trading as from April 1 . . .,” managing director, Edison Muvingi told NewsDay.

He, however, could not be drawn to disclose the number of tenants the company had signed up to take up space at the mall.

Providing above 5 000 square metres of lettable space, the Sawanga Shopping Mall consists of 23 shops, banks, concept houses, food courts, restaurants, coffee shops, a service station and curio shops.

The mall is one of Zimre’s major projects after it successfully converted Bulawayo’s Nicoz House offices into a student accommodation complex.

Recently, the company’s property manager, Stephen Kapfunde, told NewsDay that the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed property concern has several projects lined up, including an office park in Borrowdale; a townhouse development in Westgate, Harare; Selbourne Park in Bulawayo; an industrial park in Bluff Hill, Harare, and a residential project in Victoria Falls.

Muvingi said the land for all these developments had already been acquired and the projects were at different stages of implementation.

Source: Victoria Falls mall ready to open (20/03/19)

$500m investment for Victoria Falls... International hotel chain to set up exclusive leisure centre

REPRESENTATIVES of Marriott Hotels for Leisure and Business Travel, one of the world’s largest hotel chains, are in Victoria Falls this week after signing a $500 million deal to develop an exclusive hotel and a riverside lodge in the resort town.

The visit was revealed by Mr Aaron Chinhara, the managing director of Glow Petroleum and partner in the proposed investment.

He was speaking in Shurugwi on the sidelines of the official opening of a $2 million service station, the Great Dyke Centre, along the Shurugwi-Zvishavane Road recently.

Business sources in the resort town yesterday confirmed the presence of the Marriott delegates who were said to be busy in closed door meetings.

Zimbabwe’s tourism sector is poised for growth amid indications that the Marriot family, one of the richest families in the United States, had signed an MoU for the investment in two leisure centres worth $500 million in Victoria Falls.

Mr Chinhara said representatives of the Marriott Hotels for Leisure and Business Travel will be in the resort town for a two-day visit to work on the action plan for the investment. 

“We have a half billion investment that is coming to Victoria Falls. We are starting construction in 2020 and expect to finish it in 2022. We are building what is called a boutique hotel in Victoria Falls. It will be the first concept we are putting up in Zimbabwe. It will be a hotel for those with full pockets, and to do that you need proper investment partners. We have invited and have signed a deal with the Marriott Hotels and Resorts. They are jetting into Victoria Falls on Monday,” he said.

“They will be inspecting the areas where the projects will take place. There are two places for the projects, which are a boutique hotel and a riverside camp. The Marriotts are international hoteliers in various parts of the world. They are happy to work with us, so they are coming for a business meeting with us.” 

Mr Chinhara said without unnecessary red tape and corrupt elements, the country would attract many investors. He, however, said if the proposed investment faces any challenges, he would seek the support of President Mnangagwa.

“We have a problem of corrupt people from councils to even higher offices but I tell you that I will take the fight to President Mnangagwa. I have people in Government who are even against this half a billion investment, but this project will take off and will be a game changer for the tourism sector because it will be a tourist attraction. We need to do away with bottlenecks and corrupt officials,” he said. 

According to Forbes magazine, the Marriott family network was worth $6,5 billion in 2015 and they were on number 42 on the list of America’s richest families.

The family shifted into the hotel business in 1957, opening the world’s first motor hotel in Arlington, Virginia.

Marriott International today controls nearly 4 000 hotels in over 70 countries, including under the Ritz-Carlton and Bulgari brands.

Source: $500m investment for Victoria Falls... International hotel chain to set up exclusive leisure centre (20/03/19)

See Also

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (March 2019) $500m investment for Victoria Falls... International hotel chain to set up exclusive leisure centre.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (February 2021) Zambezi River Scenes Which Inspired Livingstone Under Threat.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (November 2021) Latest 5-star hotel to change face of Vic Falls.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (December 2021) Glow Petroleum opens US$1,5m facility in Vic Falls.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (May 2022) Prevalence of wild animals worries Vic Falls residents.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (20th October 2022) IHG Hotels & Resorts signs first Vignette Collection hotel in Zimbabwe, Africa.

Victoria Falls Bits and Blogs (18th November 2022) Six Senses Stilted Eco-Lodges on the Zambezi.

 

Victoria Falls tour operators dispatch helicopter and rafting guides to Chimanimani

SHEARWATER Adventures and Chikopokopo Tour Operators in Victoria Falls have dispatched two six-seater long-range helicopters and water rafters to cyclone-ravaged Chimanimani to help in rescue operations.

The Airforce of Zimbabwe and other private players are also on the ground conducting search and rescue operations in the area.

Shearwater Adventures spokesperson Clement Mukwasi yesterday confirmed the development, adding that tourism players in the resort town came together to aid in the rescue operations.

"Yes, it's true we have dispatched two six-seater helicopters with pilots and engineers and a number of water rafters to Chimanimani to help in the rescue operations of the victims of Cyclone Idai. The helicopters are long-range copters that started work yesterday [Wednesday] and will be based there for a week. On top of that we have also dispatched 15 rafters and a Kayaker [canoe paddler] to rescue marooned victims and retrieve bodies if any. Currently there are now eight helicopters doing the rescue operations," he said.

One hundred and thirty-nine people have been confirmed dead, while hundreds more are missing.

In a related development, Midlands Provincial Affairs minister, Larry Mavhima on Wednesday said the province had received donations worth over $260 000 in cash and kind for Cyclone Idai victims in the Chirumanzu and Mvuma areas.

"I am happy to note that after launching the initiative yesterday (Tuesday), we have received donations in cash and kind to the tune of over $260 000 and more is coming since we have a lot of pledges from individuals and the corporate world," Mavhima said in Gweru.

Source: Victoria Falls tour operators dispatch helicopter and rafting guides to Chimanimani (22/03/19)

More: Victoria Falls tour operators dispatch helicopter and rafting guides to Chimanimani (20/03/19)