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ANALYSIS April 13-18 2022 Weekly Digest 5

New flights a sign of tourism recovery

BY FIDELITY MHLANGA

HE scrapping of PCR COVID-19 require-
ments on flights has breathed a new
lease of life to the tourism sector which
has been teetering on the brink of col-
Tlapse.
In January this year, the Tourism Business
Council of Zimbabwe (TBCZ) pressed the panic
button, warning of damaging upheavals unless
government shifted policy and relaxed the tough
conditions imposed on hotels.
The TBCZ brings together several organisations
that represent the industry’s interests.
These include the Association of Zimbabwe
Travel Agents, the Board of Airline Representa-
tives, the Zimbabwe Vehicle Rental Association,
the Zimbabwe-Tour Operators Association, the
Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe, the
Catering Employers Association of Zimbabwe
and the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe.
The sector’s predicament was compounded
last year by the emergence of the COVID-19 Omi-
cron variant, which forced government to apply
tougher measures to fight the contagion, includ-
ing shutting down public spaces in hotels, the lo-
comotives that drive leisure and travel worldwide.
Government later scaled up restrictions when
it directed restaurants attached to hotels, back-
packers, lodges and guest houses to serve food
and drinks only in rooms.
The multibillion-dollar industry, which makes
up about 4,1% of Zimbabwe’s gross domestic
product and generates about US$3 billion annu-
ally, has been pushed to the brink by Covid-19 in-
duced hard lockdowns since March 2020.
But the arrival of Eurowings flights to Victoria
Falls a fortnight ago marked the first European
long-haul airline into Victoria Falls in a long-time
breathing life into a sector battered by COVID-19
induced lockdowns.
Qatar Airways also made its maiden direct
flight to Zimbabwe in the last quarter of last year.
This adds to other airlines that resumed flights
into the country following the relaxation of COV-
ID- 19 restrictions.
Government also scrapped the PCR require-
ments for travellers into the country making it
easy for tourists to visit Zimbabwe.
Former Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe
president, Clive Chinwada believes destination
access is a key enabler to travel and tourism.
“A number of international airlines are now fly-
ing into Zimbabwe the latest one being Eurow-
ings, which introduced flights into the Vic Falls.
The increase in flights into the country means
that access and convenience from feeder mar-
kets continues to improve making it a lot easi-
er for travellers from these feeder markets to add
Zimbabwe onto their travel bucket lists.
For instance, Namibia is predominantly a Ger-
man and Central Europe travel destination with
Eurowings being the main carrier from that
source market. Vic Falls, therefore, is going to be-
come more interconnected with Namibia and
central Europe which will in the long run boast
tourist numbers from this market,” he said.
“PCR screening costs and restrictions have
been a huge bottleneck to travel since COVID-19
broke out. As the world continues to adapt to
life with the virus, governments across the world
have begun dispensing with COVID-19 related
travel restrictions.”
He said this was a positive development for
travel and tourism given that free movement was
vital to travel.
“Positive spin offs from this policy shift should
soon be felt in some market segments such as
business and corporate related travel.
Leisure will also benefit significantly as the cost
of travel improves,” Chinwada said.
The Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe
(SOAZ) last year said tourism required at least
US$100 million in fresh grants to stay afloat.
SOAZ chairman, Emmanuel Fundira said under
the circumstances, extending loans to the sector more airlines means more tourist arrivals. the increase promotes tourist arrivals The four-star facility, on the shores of
would worsen an already bad situation. There is a huge pent-up demand for lo- and foreign currency receipts in the hos- the Zambezi River, is a partnership be-
It was the latest of a series of pleas by sector cal travel/tourism which is steering tour- pitality sector. tween Old Mutual and Spencer Creek, an
players for any form of intervention to avert a ca- ism recovery,” Chitambara said. Various towns locally rely on tourism established tourism firm with significant
tastrophe after hotel occupancy levels plummet- Economist Victor Bhoroma said the re- for employment creation and revenues, interests in the industry.
ed from a near 50% in 2019 to about 13% cur- vival was long overdue as communities hence a resurgence in international trav- Other projects that were unveiled re-
rently. that survive on tourism were now under el is long overdue,” Bhoroma said. cently include Zambezi Boutique’s US$1
The Labour and Economic Development Re- siege. The tourism sector last year received million investment and Nkosi Guest
search Institute of Zimbabwe economist Prosper “This is very positive for brand Zimba- a major boost after financial services Lodge — a multi-million-dollar facility.
Chitambara said the scrapping of travel restric- bwe and tourism sector business. The group Old Mutual Zimbabwe opened It would appear Zimbabwe could be
tions will definitely trigger tourism recovery. tourism sector is undergoing a slow re- the US$24,6 million Palm River Hotel in on course to achieve the US$5 billion
“I think this is a very positive development, covery from COVID-19 pandemic, hence Victoria Falls. tourism industry economy by 2025.