Tourist arrivals rise by 11 percent

According to the latest report titled “Tourism Trends and Statistics Report 2010”, which was prepared by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) market research and product development division, the effects and after effects of last year’s world soccer jamboree — held in Africa for the first time — largely contributed to the significant rise in tourist arrivals and hotel occupancy levels.

The report indicates that tourist arrivals were 2 239 165, representing an 11 percent increase from the 2009 figure of 2 017 264; pushing up tourism receipts to US$634 million from US$523 million recorded in 2009, representing a 21 percent increase from the comparative period.

Of the 2 239 165 arrivals received by Zimbabwe in 2010, Africa contributed 87 percent followed by Europe (6 percent), the Americas (3 percent) and Asia (2 percent). The Oceania and Middle East contributed less than 2 percent.

Average hotel room occupancy levels also increased from 46 percent to 52 percent while average bed occupancy levels rose from 35 percent to 36 percent last year compared to 2009.

Almost all of the country’s regions experienced increases in room occupancy levels except Harare and Midlands. Harare and Bulawayo and other regions recorded increases in bed occupancy except Beitbridge that remained unchanged.

The border town of Beitbridge had the highest room (62 percent) and bed (59 percent) occupancy rates while Victoria Falls remained with the highest foreign clientele composition at 63 percent probably because almost all foreign tourists want to catch a glimpse of the majestic Victoria Falls.

In interview last week, ZTA head of public relations and corporate communications Mr Sugar Chagonda confirmed that Zimbabwe’s tourism sector recorded an increase in arrivals spurred by some of its Southern

African markets such as South Africa, Mozambique and Swaziland.

“Most of our tourists came from neighbouring countries and South Africa remains the major source market in Africa with a market share of 70 percent of arrivals from the African continent.

“The increase is attributed to an increase in tourist arrivals in 2010 to our vigorous marketing campaigns both in traditional and potential source markets. The economic stability obtaining in the country since 2009 is also a major contributor to the rise in tourist arrivals and room occupancy levels.

“It is also important to note that the peace prevailing in the country since the consummation of the inclusive Government has played a pivotal role in luring tourists. A lot of tourists have changed their perception of Zimbabwe since the formation of the inclusive Government,” said Mr Chagonda.

The report indicates that tourist arrivals from the Americas rose by 19 percent in 2010 with the United States, arguably the country’s second biggest rabid critic after the United Kingdom, increasing arrivals by 30 percent.

The US continues to lead as the major overseas source market for Zimbabwe while Britain has maintained second position since 2006.

It is believed the 2010 soccer World Cup, “to some extent”, resulted in an increase in Mexican and Argentinian arrivals. However, the Asian region recorded a 36 percent decline in arrivals with all major markets except Japan and Malaysia recording a decline in the period under review.
Statistics show that Japan is the largest Asian market for Zimbabwe followed by China with a market share of 25 percent.

Europe also recorded a 20 percent decline last year with most major markets recording declines in tourist arrivals. Spain had the highest increase in arrivals (70 percent) followed by Britain and Ireland.

Going forward, Mr Chagonda reckons the country’s tourism sector has the potential to do better and probably contribute significantly to Gross Domestic Product if Government supports the ZTA’s marketing initiatives.

“I still feel we can do better as an industry if Government avails more funds for the Tourism Board’s marketing initiatives. There is no doubt that funds are heavily required to enable the ZTA to attend travel shows around the world.

“Last year, we requested for US$12,5 million from Treasury but we only got US$400 000 which is not enough for us to remain visible in source and potential markets. So far this year, we have taken our marketing of the country to Russia, China, Germany and recently the Seychelles where we did well,” said Mr Chagonda.

The report suggests that 2011 promises to bring positive results to the country’s tourism industry in line with the anticipated growth in international tourist arrivals by between 4 percent and 5 percent riding on the back of economic stability.

Source: Tourist arrivals rise by 11 percent (26/3/11)

Multi-million dollar mall for Vic Falls

Developers of a shopping mall in Victoria Falls have invited businesses to forward their input into the building of the structure which they say would take shopping to a new level in Zimbabwe’s premier resort town.

The Mosi-oa-Tunya Gateway Shopping Mall, that will accommodate shops of all sizes, is being developed by Calwood Investments Private Limited, through their project managers, Knight Frank, who have invited prospective tenants to indicate their interest.

Knight Frank managing partner in Bulawayo, Oswald Nyakunika, said the shopping mall would be located at the intersection of Livingstone Way and Kazungula Road at the entrance to Victoria Falls town.

“The development will be highly visible and abutting these major roads from Kazungula, Bulawayo and the airport into town,” Nyakunika said. He said with store sizes ranging from 40 square metres to 1 800 square metres, the shopping mall would accommodate a full complement of shops from pharmacies to banks, to restaurants, clothing stores, hardware and electrical appliances shops.

“Customers will also have access to curio and art wares, medical suites, tour operators and travel agents, as well as an Internet café,” he said.

The largest shop will be approximately 1 800 square metres and can accommodate a large retail warehouse, a wholesale cash and carry, superstore or large supermarket.

The mall is expected to service Victoria Falls and the nearby towns of Hwange and Lupane, as well as Livingstone in Zambia, Kasane in Botswana and Kazungula at the borders of Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.

The estate agent expert said amenities would include ample parking in a secure environment, tastefully designed street furniture, vendor stalls and shopping benches.

“The shopping mall is expected to be a blue tooth and Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing patrons to be in touch with the centre events and surf the web free of charge,” said Nyakunika. He said what makes the town attractive is that it is the centre of attraction in a vast tourist region that straddles across the borders of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.

“Victoria Falls has a local population of 65 000 inhabitants complemented by tourist arrivals estimated at 300 000 per year and forecast to reach 1 million per year by 2015,” he said.

The development by Calwood Investments is a giant step as the property market lumbers on a recovery path after a decade of struggling.

On the state of the property market in the country, Nyakunika said development had been affected by the liquidity crunch.

“Even though development costs have stabilised there is a severe liquidity crisis and as such there are very few development projects going on.

“This huge development that we are undertaking is one of the few in the country,” he said.

Nyakunika said they were hoping to marry the staying power of the property market with the allure of the tourism sector.

Source: Multi-million dollar mall for Vic Falls (07/02/2011)

New Shopping Mall for Victoria Falls

Developers of a shopping mall in Victoria Falls have invited businesses to forward their input into the building of the structure which they say would take shopping to a new level in Zimbabwe’s premier resort town. The Mosi-oa-Tunya Gateway Shopping Mall, that will accommodate shops of all sizes, is being developed by Calwood Investments Private Limited, through their project managers, Knight Frank, who have invited prospective tenants to indicate their interest.

Knight Frank managing partner in Bulawayo, Oswald Nyakunika, said the shopping mall would be located at the intersection of Livingstone Way and Kazungula Road at the entrance to Victoria Falls town.

“The development will be highly visible and abutting these major roads from Kazungula, Bulawayo and the airport into town,” Nyakunika said. He said with store sizes ranging from 40 square metres to 1 800 square metres, the shopping mall would accommodate a full complement of shops from pharmacies to banks, to restaurants, clothing stores, hardware and electrical appliances shops.

“Customers will also have access to curio and art wares, medical suites, tour operators and travel agents, as well as an Internet café,” he said. The largest shop will be approximately 1 800 square metres and can accommodate a large retail warehouse, a wholesale cash and carry, superstore or large supermarket.The mall is expected to service Victoria Falls and the nearby towns of Hwange and Lupane, as well as Livingstone in Zambia, Kasane in Botswana and Kazungula at the borders of Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.

The estate agent expert said amenities would include ample parking in a secure environment, tastefully designed street furniture, vendor stalls and shopping benches.“The shopping mall is expected to be a blue tooth and Wi-Fi hotspot, allowing patrons to be in touch with the centre events and surf the web free of charge,” said Nyakunika. He said what makes the town attractive is that it is the centre of attraction in a vast tourist region that straddles across the borders of Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.

“Victoria Falls has a local population of 65 000 inhabitants complemented by tourist arrivals estimated at 300 000 per year and forecast to reach 1 million per year by 2015,” he said.The development by Calwood Investments is a giant step as the property market lumbers on a recovery path after a decade of struggling.

On the state of the property market in the country, Nyakunika said development had been affected by the liquidity crunch.“Even though development costs have stabilised there is a severe liquidity crisis and as such there are very few development projects going on.“This huge development that we are undertaking is one of the few in the country,” he said. Nyakunika said they were hoping to marry the staying power of the property market with the allure of the tourism sector.

Source: New Shopping Mall for Victoria Falls (Feb 2011)

Botswana project poses fresh threat to Victoria Falls

THE attractiveness of the mighty Victoria Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world, is under threat if Botswana goes ahead with its planned extraction of large volumes of water from Chombe River for use
in its interior, a cabinet minister has said.

This would affect foreign currency inflows for both Zimbabwe and Zambia pumped in by tourists who throng the falls annually to witness the 'smoke that thunders.'

Botswana has notified other southern African countries of its intentions to abstract some 30 cubic metres from the Chombe River where it meets the Zambezi River for a planned irrigation scheme in the Pandamatenga area and for domestic water supply.

The Minister of Water Resources Development and Management, Samuel Sipepa-Nkomo recently told parliament that Zimbabwe was considering Botswana's submission.

He, however, noted the project might have serious repercussions on Victoria Falls, the largest curtain of water in the world, which is 1,708 metres wide.

"They have notified us because the Zamcom (Zambezi Watercourse Commission) agreement requires them to do that and we are now considering their submissions," said Sipepa-Nkomo. "Though more studies may be necessary, it looks like 30 cubic metres is a lot of water which might deprive the attractiveness of the 

Victoria Falls."

Remarkably preserved in its natural state, Victoria Falls inspires visitors as much today as it did to David Livingstone in the 1860s. The falls and the surrounding area have been declared National Parks and a World Heritage Site, thus preserving the area from excessive commercialisation.

The local people call it 'Mosi-oa-Tunya' - the smoke that thunders.

Presently, Victoria Falls World Heritage Site status is at the centre of huge furore following the construction of a restaurant in the rain forest. The National Parks and Wildlife Authority of Zimbabwe partnered with
Shearwater and constructed a new development within the core zone of the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site.

During the festive season, more than 14 000 tourists visited the Victoria Falls rainforest while major hotels and lodges were fully booked.

Sipepa-Nkomo said Mozambique had also notified Zimbabwe of its intention to construct Mphanda Nkuwa Dam which is set to generate some 2275MW of electricity for the country. The dam site, which is on the Zambezi River, lies between Cabora Bassa dam and the City of Tete in Mozambique.

"This project is an advantage to Zimbabwe because we can import more power from Mozambique," Sipepa-Nkomo said.

Source: Botswana project poses fresh threat to Victoria Falls (11/01/11)

Rainforest Cafe at Victoria Falls receives UNESCO stamp of approval

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

Gill Staden

(eTN) - The United Nations Education and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) has endorsed the Rainforest Cafe that was constructed at the entrance of the Victoria Falls rainforest, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr. Sylvester Maunganidze, has said. The development means that the World Heritage Status of the rainforest is not under threat from delisting.

Dr. Maunganidze said the endorsement of the restaurant follows a decision by UNESCO to send a secret mission into the country, which he said found nothing amiss at the facility.

The Rainforest Cafe has been closed for a month after the National Museums and Monuments (NMMZ) unilaterally took over control of the rainforest from the long-time managers, the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (NPWMA). At the same time, park rangers were also booted out of office. The two government entities are fighting each other for control of the entrance at one of the Seven Wonders of the World, which rakes in about US$7,000 daily, and the restaurant was caught in the crossfire.

In an interview at the resort town of Victoria Falls, Dr. Maunganidze said UNESCO convened a meeting in Livingstone, Zambia, to discuss the conservation program at Victoria Falls among other issues. He stated: “UNESCO had picked from the media that there were some fights around the restaurant with NMMZ claiming that the facility should not be there as it was in violation of UNESCO protocol and that it was disturbing the skyline of the falls.

“So out of that meeting, UNESCO sent a secret mission on Monday to see the restaurant, and the mission later reported that there was nothing amiss, adding that it was not interfering with the WHS.

“UNESCO also had never complained about the restaurant as some elements in the local and international media were claiming. UNESCO even quoted a local non-governmental organization that was raising the dust, and one wonders on whose behalf they were raising dust. In fact, UNESCO concluded that the restaurant was adding value to the falls.”

He added that UNESCO and his ministry had no qualms over the operation of the restaurant noting that a directive by Vice President Nkomo for the status quo of the facility to remain should be followed.

“My ministry gave the operator, Shearwater Adventures, a licence to operate and would see to it that they re-open soon. I am taking the matter up to Vice President Nkomo who gave a directive last month for the status quo to remain at the rainforest,” he said. Trouble started when NMMZ tried to control the Victoria Falls rainforest by elbowing out long-time managers, NPWMA. NMMZ also forced the Rainforest Cafe to close.

However, the government took a position that the management of the rainforest reverts to the parks authority. The battle to control the rainforest has been raging behind closed doors for more than a decade.

The area was declared a national monument in 1932 and a national park in 1957 before UNESCO designated it a World Heritage Site in 1989.

Source: Rainforest Cafe at Victoria Falls receives UNESCO stamp of approval (30/12/10)

UNESCO endorses Victoria falls rainforest restaurant

THE United Nations Education and Scientific Organisation (Unesco) has endorsed the restaurant that was constructed at the entrance of the Victoria Falls rainforest (pictured), the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr Sylvester Maunganidze, has said.The development means that the World Heritage Status of the rainforest is not under threat from delisting.

Dr Maunganidze said the endorsement of the restaurant follows a decision by Unesco to send a secret mission into the country on Monday which he said found nothing amiss at the facility.

The restaurant has been closed for a month after the National Museums and Monuments (NMMZ) unilaterally took over the control of the rainforest from the long time managers, the National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (NPWMA).At the same time parks rangers were also booted out of office.

The two Government entities are fighting each other for control of the entrance at one of the Seven Wonders of the World which rakes in about US$7 000 daily and the restaurant was caught in the cross fire.

In an interview yesterday in the resort town of Victoria Falls, Dr Maunganidze said Unesco convened a meeting in Livingstone, Zambia, to discuss the conservation programme at Victoria Falls among other issues “Unesco had picked from the media that there were some fights around the restaurant with NMMZ claiming that the facility should not be there as it was in violation of Unesco protocol and that it was disturbing the skyline of the Falls.

“So out of that meeting, Unesco sent a secret mission on Monday to see the restaurant and the mission later reported that there was nothing amiss, adding that it was not interfering with the WHS.

“Unesco also had never complained about the restaurant as some elements in the local and international media were claiming,” he said.“Unesco even quoted a local non-governmental organisation that was raising the dust and one wonders on whose behalf they were raising dust. In fact, Unesco concluded that the restaurant was adding value to the Falls.”

He noted that Unesco and his ministry had no qualms over the operation of the restaurant noting that a directive by Vice President Nkomo for the status quo of the facility to remain should be followed.

“My ministry gave the operator Shearwater Adventures a licence to operate and would see to it that they re-open soon.“I am taking the matter up to Vice President Nkomo who gave a directive last month for the status quo to remain at the rainforest,” he said.Trouble started when NMMZ tried to control the Victoria Falls rainforest by elbowing out long-time managers NPWMA.NMMZ also forced the restaurant to close.

However, the Government took a position that the management of the rainforest reverts to the parks authority. The battle to control the rainforest has been raging behind closed doors for more than a decade.

The area was declared a national monument in 1932 and a national park in 1957 before Unesco designated it a World Heritage Site in 1989.

Source: UNESCO endorses Victoria falls rainforest restaurant (23/12/10)

Multi-million dollar mall to be built in Vic Falls

A multi-million dollar "one stop" shopping mall is set to be built in Victoria Falls next year.

Plans for the construction of the upmarket mall are at an advanced stage.

Construction of Mosi-oa-Tunya Gateway Shopping Mall is expected to begin early next year.

The Bulawayo managing partner of Knight Frank Zimbabwe, Mr Oswald Nyakunika, said his company had been mandated to put together a balanced tenant mix that would reflect the exciting theme of the centre.

The marketing of the centre will be spearheaded and managed by Knight Frank.

Calwood Investments Private Limited is funding the project.

"A new development is going to take place in Victoria Falls. We are ready to take off anytime and we are just finalising details on anchor tenants. An impressively designed shopping mall, is targeted at the progressive retailer and discerning shopper to enjoy a world class African shopping experience.

"The developer is Calwood Investments and is very excited about the project which will transform and take shopping to a new level in Victoria Falls. The project has already been approved by all parties concerned," he said.

Murray and Roberts would undertake the construction of the project and the site for the construction has been identified.

"Murray and Roberts have extensive experience in delivering high quality and sustainable projects and would deliver this project within nine months of commissioning. Mosi-oa-Tunya Gateway Shopping Mall is appropriately located at the corner of Livingstone Way and Kazungula Road at the entrance to Victoria Falls town. The development will be highly visible and abutting these major roads from Kazungula, Bulawayo and the airport into town," Mr Nyakunika said.

The location of the shopping mall in a town characterised by the mighty thundery of the Victoria Falls would definitely boost the country's tourism industry.

The shopping mall would offer 36 shops ranging from 40 square metres to 1 800 square metres on ground and first floor.

Mr Nyakunika said the shopping mall could accommodate a full complement of shops such as pharmacies, banks, clothing stores, hardware and electrical appliance shops.

"The large anchor shop is approximately 1 800 square metres and can accommodate a large retail warehouse, a wholesale cash and carry, superstore or large supermarket whose catchment area is in excess of 100 kilometres, supporting the entire region of Victoria Falls and the nearby towns of Hwange and Lupane, as well as Livingstone in Zambia, Kasane in Botswana and Kazungula at the borders of Zambia, Botswana and Namibia," he said.

"The shopping mall's elegant design is characteristic to the preserved natural environment in which it is set. The open-air food courts, restaurants and courtyards, wide verandas and shop fronts create both a tasteful and an inviting experience.

"The developers of this prestigious project invite prospective tenants to indicate their interest and showcase their product and service offering to Knight Frank who are the appointed marketing agents," said Mr Nyakunika.

Source: Multi-million dollar mall to be built in Vic Falls (09/12/10)