The Sunday News
Wilson Dakwa, Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE’s hotel occupancy rate in the first three months of the year stood at 46 percent, a slight increase compared to 36 percent and 38 percent recorded last year and in 2015 respectively, an official has said.
In an interview, Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) president Mr Innocent Manyira said occupancy rate according to regions, however, showed that Victoria Falls continued to top with figures above 50 percent.
“There has been a slight growth in the nation’s first quarter hotel occupancy rate with the rate currently sitting at 46 percent. Compared to other regions like Kariba, occupancy rate is higher in Victoria Falls since it is the nation’s prime tourism destination,” said Mr Manyira.
He said HAZ was pleased with the standards and renovations which the country’s hotels and lodges were undertaking in preparation for the busy second half of the year. Occupancy in most areas go up in the second half particularly in the last quarter of the year when people book for the festive season.
“Most hotels have been undertaking renovations and this is a positive thing as it enhances Zimbabwean standards and what the nation has to offer. The major challenge for those who have not renovated their facilities is lack of funding. It is easier for hoteliers like the Rainbow Tourism Group to renovate their hotel outlets like they have been doing because they are listed on the Zimbabwean Stock Exchange and have the capital to do so.
“Command Tourism will enable hoteliers who do not have the resources to renovate and improve service delivery to access loans from the Government for recapitalisation. It will offer a revolving fund which will result in hotel A getting a loan from the Government, pay it back after the agreed repayment terms and then hotel B accesses the repaid money and so on. This will largely bring about growth in the hospitality sector standards which will in turn boost tourism,” he added.
Mr Manyira also commended the new airlines which have been flying into the country.
“The various airlines flying into the country have many merits to us as a nation as we get much exposure and tourists get to experience what Zimbabwe has to offer,” he said.
