Zim government addresses tourism challenges
WHILE there have
been challenges
around foreign
exchange and fuel supply,
Zimbabwe is open for
business with tourism
numbers continuing to grow,
say Zimbabwean authorities.
Dollars, rands and pounds
are all accepted from
tourists.
The country’s Department
of Tourism recently
told media that it was
working closely with the
Zimbabwean Tourism
Authority, the hospitality
sector and tour operators to
find workable solutions for
the country.
This was confirmed by
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority
(ZTA), head of corporate
affairs, Godfrey Koti,
who highlighted that his
organisation was working
with the ministry to develop
products suitable for
diverse tourism markets.
He added that, as a result
of successful international
engagements, Zimbabwe
had recently been rated
number three on Lonely
Planet travel guide’s list of
must-visit countries.
On June 24, a Statutory
Instruction was issued
stating that the only legal
tender was the Zimbabwe
dollar. However Godfrey
said, while there was
a shortage of physical
currency in the country “any
freely convertible foreign
currencies” remained
acceptable.
“Credit cards are also
acceptable everywhere
in Zimbabwe where the
relevant arrangements
have been made with the
international credit card
companies such as VISA,
MasterCard and others
issued by different banks
in the countries of origin of
the travellers,” he said.
He added that tourism
and travel service providers
had international credit
card-enabled point-of-sale
machines and that visitors
could also withdraw local
cash from international
credit card-enabled ATMs of
the different banks.
Various travel advisories
have encouraged travellers
to use credit cards wherever
possible as banks (and
therefore ATMs etc) have
been known to run out of
currency.
A travel advisory from the
United Kingdom government
also highlighted that, when
required, visa fees could be
paid for in US dollars at any
port of entry.
Fifth CPT-Harare flight introduced
RWANDAN flag carrier,
RwandAir, introduced a
fifth direct weekly flight to
Harare from Cape Town
last month, according to
the airline’s South African
sales manager, Sarah-Jane
Silburn.
This follows the
successful introduction
of four direct Cape TownHarare flights in May last
year. “This now means we
fly out of Cape Town on
Mondays, Wednesdays,
Fridays, Saturdays and
Sundays,” says SarahJane.
She says there is a mix
of leisure and business
travel on the route. “As
RwandAir operates the
only direct flights between
Cape Town and Harare,
this allows passengers
the quickest and most
convenient way between
the cities.”
Cape Town’s tourism,
investment and trade
promotion agency, Wesgro,
has welcomed the
additional flight, with ceo,
Tim Harris, highlighting
that in the first two months
since the flights were
launched in May last year,
there was a 46% growth
in two-way passengers
between the two cities.
“We look forward to an
increase in tourism, trade
and investment between
Cape Town, Harare and
Kigali, which we believe
will be facilitated through
increased capacity for both
passengers and cargo.”
RwandAir operates the
Boeing 737-700/800 on
the route, with 16 seats in
business class and 138 in
economy.
While there are
challenging circumstances,
the market is resilient,
says Sarah-Jane.
“A lot of people still
travel to visit family and
friends as well as to do
business.” She said there
was an attitude of “the
show must go on” among
South African travellers.
Avis guarantees fuel supply
DESPITE Zimbabwe’s fuel
shortages, Avis has found
solutions to assist its
customers.
“Avis guarantees a full
tank of fuel on collection
of the vehicle and should
our clients be travelling
long distances and require
additional fuel, Avis will
provide it in 20-litre Jerry
cans,” said Bev Sande,
md of Avis Rent a Car,
Zimbabwe.
“As fuel is not included in
our rates, all fuel used will
be charged to the client’s
rental,” said Bev.
Foreigners are still
permitted to pay for car hire
using their international
credit cards. “Avis has
point of sale machines
linked to foreign currency
accounts, which allows us
to accept credit cards from
anywhere in the world.”
Bev was quick to give
assurance about the
safety of self-drive in the
country but said, due to
the shortage of foreign
currency, clients should
avoid attracting attention
by flashing large amounts
of cash.
“We also encourage
customers to rent a GPS
from Avis as road signs
are often missing.” She
said driving at night was
discouraged as there were
often stray animals on the
roads, She also advised
drivers to exercise caution
as traffic lights often did
not work.
“All Avis customers have
automatic membership
of Road Angels Roadside
Assistance so, should our
clients run into a problem,
help is only a phone call
away.”
The company offers
vehicles ranging from small
cars to SUVs, 4x4s and
minibuses on a self-drive
or chauffeur-driven basis.
Cars are offered on a pointto-point transfer basis,
for cross-border and oneway rentals. Extras such
as trailer hire and baby
seats are also available on
request.
Vehicles are available
from Avis branches at
Harare International Airport,
Avis head office and the
office (adjacent to Meikles
Hotel) in Harare, Joshua
Nkomo International Airport
in Bulawayo and Victoria
Falls International Airport.
For an additional fee,
Avis can deliver a vehicle
anywhere in Zimbabwe.
Did you know?
Eight birds carved in soapstone were found in the ruins of Great Zimbabwe. The birds feature human and
avian characteristics, and are still a major symbol of Zimbabwean culture.
Relish the relics
BUILT near the town of
Masvingo between 1100
and 1450 and fabled as
the home of the Queen of
Sheba, Great Zimbabwe is
the ancient capital of the
Kingdom of Zimbabwe.
The stone city spans an
area of 7,22 sq km and
is recognised as a World
Heritage Site by Unesco.
It is believed to have
served as a royal palace
for the local monarch,
and while there has been
some destruction and
disrepair, it still serves as
a strong archaeological
example of the country’s
ancient history. It can be
divided into three main
areas to explore – The
Hill Ruins, The Great
Enclosure and the Valley
Ruins.
The site was also an
important trading site and
the small on-site museum
displays, amongst others,
shards of Persian pottery,
a Chinese writing set and
brass ornaments from
Assam in India which were
all unearthed amid or
near the ruins.
Muneshe Munodawafa,
Zimbabwe’s permanent
secretary for Environment,
Tourism and Hospitality,
says there are several
accommodation options
near the ruins for selfdrive travellers, adding
that many tour operators
also include the ruins on
their itineraries.
Shortages in Zim drive up costs
CHALLENGES in Zimbabwe –
such as shortages of foreign
currency and fuel and an
unreliable power supply – have
driven up costs for tourism
operators, including hoteliers.
“Increased costs faced by
business operators must of
course be passed on to the
customers through higher
tariffs and fees, which is
standard in any business, but
we all try to minimise increases
to remain competitive in
the market,” says Cresta
Hotels sales and business
development manager, Tersh
Makamanzi.
She says there is a limit to
how much can be absorbed
without sacrificing viability.
However, shortages of
currency and input products are
not new to Zimbabwean travel
and tourism operators. “The
sector endeavours to maintain
business-as-normal conditions
for guests, irrespective of what
behind-the-scenes efforts have
to be made to maintain a high
level of operational normality,”
says Tersh.
Furthermore, travellers from
across the world are still
visiting. “We remain confident
of Zimbabwe’s tourism sector
and we have spent more
than US$10 million (R144m)
on product development
and upgrades to physical
infrastructure over the past six
years,” she says.
Cresta Hotels operates five
hotels in Zimbabwe, four of
which are primarily dependent
on business travellers,
conferences and banqueting
business from local, regional
and international source
markets. Cresta Sprayview, its
Victoria Falls property, primarily
focuses on leisure travellers
from regional and international
source markets.
Top 5 safari destinations
THE Zimbabwe Parks
and Wildlife Management
Authority, which manages
about five million hectares
of conserved land,
highlights five of its
top wildlife and safari
destinations.
1.The 14 650 sq km
Hwange National Park
is the largest park in
Zimbabwe. Located about
an hour south of the
Victoria Falls, Hwange
features over 100 species
of mammals and nearly
400 bird species. The
elephant population is
one of the largest in the
world.
2.Chimanimani National
Park, which borders
Mozambique, is set
in an area of rugged
mountains, spectacular
gorges and high peaks
rising to 2 436m. Wildlife
species include eland,
sable, bushbuck, blue
duiker, klipspringer and an
occasional leopard.
3.Three major rivers – the
Save, Runde and Mwenezi
– run through the
5 035 sq km Gonarezhou
National Park, forming
pools and natural oases
at which hundreds of
species of birds, wildlife
and fish gather.
4.Mana Pools National
Park is a Unesco World
Heritage Site and is
home to a wide range
of mammals, over 350
bird species and aquatic
wildlife. It is known as
one of the best national
parks for walking safaris.
5.The 44 500-hectare
Matoba National Park–
another Unesco World
Heritage Site – is an
Intensive Protection Zone
for endangered Black and
White rhinoceros.
Fastjet flies to the falls
LOW-COST carrier, fastjet
is introducing three
flights per week between
Johannesburg and
Harare until September
15, on Mondays,
Thursdays and Sundays,
as part of its seasonal
schedule.
This is in addition to
its current double-daily
flights from Harare to
Victoria Falls, its four
daily flights between
Harare and Johannesburg
and double-daily flights
from Harare to Bulawayo.
A corporate
communications
spokesperson for the
airline told TNW that
Zimbabwe destinations
remained popular
among both local and
international travellers,
citing data from Trading
Economics.
“Travellers from
South Africa, do not
require a visa to enter
Zimbabwe, making it
an ideal destination for
corporate and leisure
travellers.
