The Sunday News
STAKEHOLDERS in the tourism industry have welcomed the introduction of more airlines flying into Victoria Falls saying this development was likely to increase tourist arrivals into the resort town and endorse it as a destination of choice. Last week low cost carrier Fly Africa conducted demonstration flights from Victoria Falls to Harare to meet civil aviation regulations ahead of their inaugural flight between Victoria Falls and Johannesburg.
Wild Horizon executive director, Business Development and Corporate Affairs and Zimbabwe Council for Tourism representative, Ms Barbra Murasiranwa, said the increase in the number of airline operators in Victoria Falls would make the destination affordable which will translate into an influx of tourists into the resort town.
“An increase in tourist arrivals translates into more revenue in the sector and benefits the country’s economy. We are excited about this development because it will boost tourism in Zimbabwe and increase employment,” she said.
Ms Murasiranwa said affordable airlines were a welcome development in the resort town.
Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe Victoria Falls chapter chairperson Mr Jonathan Hudson said more airlines operating in the resort town would benefit the destination and said as a sector they were grateful to Government for giving the country an opportunity to open skies and allow more operators.
Mr Hudson said these airlines would complement services offered by national carrier Air Zimbabwe.
“We are, however, hoping for stability and consistency from these airlines. Their operations here will increase arrivals and boost the tourism sector,” he said.
In an interview, Victoria Falls town clerk Mr Christopher Dube said the development was a boost for tourism considering that most of the low cost airlines would be charging about $100 to and from Johannesburg.
He said because of the low charges, many people would fly into Victoria Falls.
“We are expecting a tourism boom and as the municipality we have been receiving a lot of inquiries with people wanting to develop tourism related infrastructure like hotels and lodges here,” said Mr Dube.
Mr Dube said it was anticipated that once the new airport was fully functional, there would be an influx and a high demand of accommodation and related services in the resort town.
He said the season July-January, was the peak of tourism in the town.
“Certainly we are excited and expect to see significant growth of the town through an increase in tourist arrivals,” said Mr Dube.
Despite the obvious benefits that more airlines would bring to the country, other operators expressed skepticism saying a lot of “fly by night” investments only served as a disservice to the sector and urged investors to show consistency in their operations.
Khanondo Safaris general manager Mr Ben Tesa said although it was a welcome move to have more airlines operating in Victoria Falls, they should last.
He said the problem comes when these airlines operate for a few months and then disappear.
“We welcome the development but while there is a lot of excitement we are skeptical on whether it will last the distance. We urge these operators not to be like other investments that are fly-by-night,” he said.
Fly Africa Zimbabwe country chairman Mr Chakanyuka Karase said the airline chose to begin its operations in Victoria Falls because the town symbolised the essence of tourism and it was a world-renowned destination.
“Besides the fact that our traffic rights were to Victoria Falls, this is a destination of choice. Here you will find one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the mighty Victoria Falls and the big five animals. This town symbolises tourism,” said Mr Karase.
Meanwhile, Kariba, one of the country’s resort towns is expected to see a boost in business and tourism with Air Zimbabwe set to resume commercial flights on the Harare- Kariba-Victoria Falls route starting in August.
The airline will service the route with its 52-seater MA60 plane.
Air Zimbabwe last serviced the Harare-Kariba route in 2007.
