The Sunday News
Roberta Katunga Senior Business Reporter
PREPARATIONS for the third edition of the Jameson Victoria Falls Carnival are at an advanced stage amid revelations that the organisers have signed a deal with low-cost airline FlyAfrica to be the official airline partner for the event.The carnival will be held from 29 to 31 December.
In an interview, one of the organisers, Mr Emmanuel Tivatyi, said the main aim of the carnival was to fortify Victoria Falls’ status as a tourist destination of choice.
“Plans for this year’s edition of the carnival are at an advanced stage and we are generally happy with what we have achieved so far and the response we are getting from people. Already the three-day pass has been sold out and we now have the two and one-day passes remaining,” said Mr Tivatyi.
Mr Tivatyi said the organisers were working with a number of organisations to bring maximum benefit to locals as well as engaging tour and safari operators to come up with special carnival rates for activities.
“We have negotiated a deal with FlyAfrica to have them as our airline partner from South Africa to Victoria Falls as by virtue of being a low cost airline, they are affordable and they now fly four times into the resort town.
“We have also engaged tour operators to have special rates for the carnival as this event attracts thousands of festival-goers from across Africa and the world which will definitely mean increased revenue,” he said.
Apart from tour operators, Mr Tivatyi said locals would benefit from the event as it creates employment and provides business opportunities for different people. He said they had employed a number of locals for setting up and ticketing among other things.
He added that this year’s edition would be different as they were introducing a colour festival. Some of the highlights are a train and secret bush party on 29 December, the colour festival and after-parties would be on the following day while the New Year’s festival would be held on the last day of the year.
“If you combine Africa’s biggest artists, the world’s greatest adventures and a New Year’s countdown like nowhere else on earth then you have arrived at the Jameson Vic Falls Carnival. Set in the spectacular town of Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, this 7th Wonder of the World and national heritage park is the perfect backdrop to ring in a uniquely African New Year,” said Mr Tivatyi.
