The Sunday News
Roberta Katunga Senior Business Reporter
TOURISM operators in the resort town of Victoria Falls have been given a temporary relief from the stresses of the low season as the town hosted multitudes of delegates who came in for the 21st February Movement celebrations with all hotels and lodges fully booked. Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Victoria Falls chapter chairman and Elephant Hills resort general manager Mr Trythings Mutyandasvika said on Friday and Saturday, facilities offering accommodation were fully booked at a time when things have been quiet.
“It has been a welcome relief to the industry to be hosts of this event and it is actually a great honour to host an event of this magnitude as a town. We are delighted to have been able to buffer the strains of a low season,” said Mr Mutyandasvika.
He said the benefits of being the host town were not only for the hoteliers but the business community as a whole as vendors, taxi drivers and tour operators benefited a lot.
“Business has been good all round for every individual in this town and we do wish we could have the 21st February Movement celebrations in our area every year,” he said, adding that the town is basking in the aftermath of successfully hosting a man of President Mugabe’s stature.
In a separate interview, Shearwater Adventures corporate communications manager Mr Clement Mukwasi said this will significantly help the industry during this low season period.
“The revenue generated from this event could not have come at a better time than now. The inflows created by this occasion are a big relief which will propel the industry into the busy season with some money for survival. Accommodation space has been taken up, restaurants are struggling to provide services and transport businesses as well as tourism activities such as cruises are also 100 percent full,” said Mr Mukwasi.
He said this was the best in a number of years that they have seen as operators in terms of domestic tourists of that magnitude.
The 29th edition of the 21st February Movement celebrations were held at the Elephant Hills Hotel yesterday with at least 20 000 delegates in attendance.
Reports also indicated that some of the delegates were accommodated in Livingstone, Zambia.
The 21st February Movement was inaugurated in 1986 as part of inculcating President Mugabe’s revolutionary principles and charismatic leadership especially in young people.
