Vic Falls regaining its lustre

KEY tourism suppliers in Zimbabwe’s Victoria Falls have joined forces to initiate the GotoVictoriaFalls.com campaign. Launched at this year’s Indaba, the campaign seeks to dispel negative perceptions and put Victoria Falls back on the map through an aggressive marketing drive. Efforts will focus on Victoria Falls as a safe destination, the friendliness of the locals, daily air access into the area, the wide range of products available and the fact that 70% of the views of the Falls are from the Zimbabwe rainforest. Victoria Falls, says spokesperson Ross Kennedy, is regaining its vibrancy and is heading for its third year of positive growth. “About 150 000 people visited in 2005, and 180 000 are confidently expected for 2006,” says Kennedy. Some properties are reporting 22% growth and some have up to 65% monthly occupancy levels. “Such positive trends are the reason that all major tourism companies and properties remain vibrantly active and how 40 000 people in the community remain actively employed,” says Kennedy. Natalia Thomson (nataliat@nowmedia.co.za)