The Sunday News
Business Reporter
VICTORIA Falls town is set for a major facelift as the Government will soon declare it a Tourism Special Economic Zone while an International Financial Centre will be set up to promote transaction for tourists.
Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa in his budget presented on Thursday said the Government has already availed 274 hectares of land to a Special Purpose Vehicle, the Mosi-Oa-Tunya Development Company incorporated through the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality to facilitate the implementation of the concept.
“This project should leverage on the various tourism products already in existence, which include, among others, leisure, business, conferences, financial, medical, sports, religious, cultural, and education. These tourism products require different facilities and, hence, the proposed Tourism Economic Zone should be designed in a manner that meets the different interests of these customer groups,” said Minister Chinamasa.
He said the project is set to bring immense benefits through expected growth in tourism arrivals, increase in tourism generated income and employment creation across the value chain.
“Accordingly, drawing from international best practices, the necessary incentives and dispensations in the areas of taxation, duty, liberal visa regimes and exchange control regulations will be availed.”
Tourism, he said, was one of Zimbabwe’s focal sector which is expected to yield quick results. He said this year, the sector recorded some growth due to the marketing programmes that were done at major fairs in Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom.
In addition the country also successfully hosted the Harare International Carnival and the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Expo.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has projected arrivals to increase this year to 2,5 million. However, Minister Chinamasa said more still has to be done to improve the numbers.
He said a Tourism Enhancement Project supported by the African Development Bank was progressing well. The project seeks to produce a conducive environment for tourism investments.
“A total of US$0,6 million against an allocation of $1,3 million was disbursed as at 30 September 2015, with an additional US$200 000 expected by end of year,” he said.
Next year, he added, $500 000 will also be disbursed towards the tourism enhancement project. On the progress of the upgrade of the Victoria Falls Airport project, Minister Chinamasa said the project will be completed this month and commissioned early next year.
“Completion of the project will boost the airport’s aircraft handling capacity and tourism into Victoria Falls by accommodating around 1,2 million passengers per annum compared to the existing capacity of 400 000.”
The airport is being upgraded through a concessionary $150 million loan from China’s Exim Bank. The project was initiated in February 2013 to boost tourism and its aircraft handling capacity and is also aimed at Victoria Falls the regional aviation hub.
Expansion work also included expansion of the existing runway, construction of a new terminal building, control tower and a car park.
A new fire station, sewer ponds and water tank are also being built at the airport. To improve the flow of tourists between Zambia and Zimbabwe the two countries that share the Victoria Falls, Minister Chinamasa announced plans that Government will extend operating hours at Livingstone border to 24 hours. This will also be implemented at Chirundu Border Post.
“Similarly, the opening hours at the Kazungula Border Post with Botswana are being extended to 20 hours, from the current close of business at 18 hours,” he said.
Kazungula is also close to Victoria Falls.
