The Sunday News
Dalphine Tagwireyi Business Reporter
DESTINATION Zimbabwe has been endorsed as one of the world’s 52 places to visit in 2015 by the New York Times Travel alongside South Africa’s Durban, Tanzania and Morocco’s Rabat as the country continues in its drive to manage negative perceptions. In the NY Times list, Zimbabwe is one of only four African countries and is ranked number 14 behind only South Africa’s Durban destination in Africa. The other places to visit are in Europe, the Caribbean islands, Asia as well as the United States of America.
According to the NY Times Travel, as Zimbabwe is on the path to economic revival, with tourism as one of the country’s four main economic pillars, it was evident that the sector would be revived after embarking on vigorously marketing the country as a safe tourism destination and rebranding tourism so as to increase tourist arrivals which had dwindled.
Zimbabwe Tourism Association chief operating officer Mr Givemore Chidzidzi said that it was an exciting development for the tourism sector that should, however, be maintained all year round.
“This is a serious call on the tourism sector as it turns our fortunes around to get recognition from the media platform that once only had negative things to say about our country. We are committed to continue working hard and promoting brand Zimbabwe as the best tourism destination,” he said.
Mr Chidzidzi outlined that Zimbabwe had received an endorsement which would see tourists from both emerging and traditional markets visiting the country’s various tourist attractions.
“The boost has come at a time when the tourism sector has focused on making Zimbabwe the first choice tourist destination as being among three other African countries gives us a huge advantage that we will use to revitalise the tourism sector,” said Mr Chidzidzi.
The NYT states that Zimbabwe, once avoided, was now a must-visit site of 2015 as the country boasts beauty and bounty that has been overshadowed by political unrest and economic challenges over the last few decades, “. . . but today, the Government is finally stable, the overinflated Zimbabwean dollar is gone, and the prices are low”.
Shearwater public relations officer Mr Clement Mukwasi said lack of positive publicity from Western media had inhibited the younger tourists and hence activities such as bungee jumping and elephant rides had declined.
“This is a new chapter and it is exciting because this means we will record more arrivals of younger tourists as we had facilitated for large groups of pensioners and retirees who came in their numbers. However, the boost we have received will hopefully lure the younger generation,” he said.
Mr Mukwasi said that this was a new opportunity as well as expansion of their market which would result in the influx of tourists not only from the United States of America but North America and other European countries.
A lot of work has been done by the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry to promote tourist arrivals as well as promote various tourist destinations in the country namely Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Matopos Hills, Great Zimbabwe, Chinhoyi Caves, Kariba and other monumental sites.
Unlike for other places mentioned on the list, the NYT mentioned an array of destinations in Zimbabwe instead of zeroing in on a particular city.
The NYT mentioned that an international terminal at Victoria Falls Airport set to open in July would make it far easier to visit and new trips from outfitters like Red Savannah and Cox and Kings gave travellers a way to explore the many riches.
It further notes that there is the spectacular Victoria Falls, the Zambezi, Unesco World Heritage sites like the granite landform Matobo Hills and the colonial charm of cities like Harare.
The biggest draw, however, might be the abundance of game, including hippos and lions, on full view on water safaris, like those offered by the new luxury cruiser Matusadona or the old-fashioned way, by land, at upscale lodges like Bomani Tented Lodge in Hwange National Park.
A blogger on The Travel Sisters website who particularly found the list interesting said: “Some of these places are new to me but many are already on my wish list including Bolivia, Medellin, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Seoul and Sri Lanka. I have yet to visit Singapore but have plans to visit in a few weeks.”
