Tirivanhu Kateera
Continued efforts by the New Dispensation (ND) and the private sector to revive the country’s tourism sector and the economy in general continued to get internal support this time from a distinguished airliner.
Government and tourism players have embarked on an offensive to market Destination Zimbabwe to traditional and new tourist source markets as part of efforts to revive the country’s tourism sector, buttered by the COVID-19 pandemic, with resort towns such as Victoria Falls being the hardest hit.
Recently, Qatar Airways (QA) made its maiden flight from Doha to Harare and Lusaka in a major endorsement to Destination Zimbabwe. The airline, currently flying to other six African destinations, is scheduled to shuttle between Doha and Harare three times a week.
No doubt, aviation industry is a key economic enabler and it makes more sense when 5 star airlines come into the country’s air space, signalling that the country is on course to achieve its set economic targets.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ), eight airlines are currently plying the Zimbabwean route bringing business and tourists. The airlines include; Emirates, Qatar, Ethiopian Airways, Rwanda Air, Comair and others. Locally AirZim, Fast Jet and Fly City Air are complementing the foreign airlines by flying further to other local destinations such as Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and Mutare.
CAAZ also noted that seven other foreign airlines were making final touches to also fly, the Zimbabwean route giving travellers more options.
The coming in of QA is a positive development for Zimbabwe as it shows an increase in destination confidence. It further provides tourists, business and leisure travellers with more connection options to Zimbabwe, contributing immensely to the economic recovery.
QA currently connects more than 130 destinations on the map every day, which is also a plus on Destination Zimbabwe as tourists can easily connect to the country without much hustle.
The arrival of the airliner also is a sign of approval for the country’s re-engagement agenda as more and more airlines are now confident of guaranteed business flying the Zimbabwean route.
No doubt, the New Dispensation’s active support of the tourism sector pre and post-COVID-19 is bearing fruit as evidenced by the arrival of QA and high level global support the country is attracting in rebuilding tourism.
Recently the country’s strategies to offset the effects of COVID-19 on the tourism sector even attracted the support of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), the World Bank (WB) and Japan. The UNWTO was particularly leading efforts in measuring the potential of the local tourism sector in national economic development.
UNWTO Director for Africa, Elcia Grandcourt recently commented, “We are delighted to work again with Zimbabwe in this important endeavour. We are committed to supporting the Government in providing clear data that can help guide key decisions for tourism's recovery and growth.”
The responsible authorities such as CAAZ and others must also make more effort to convince foreign airlines to also fly direct into destinations such as Victoria Falls to further easy accessibility of such areas by tourists and travellers.
Moreso, CAAZ must also facilitate the reopening of routes such as Kariba, Binga and Masvingo to improve accessibility.
Going forward, tourism stakeholders should keep exhibiting at various expo and indabas around the world to lure more tourists as this is a viable sector if properly harnessed.
The coming in of the New Dispensation in 2017, ushered a record $1.4 billion earnings from tourism in 2018, showing the global goodwill the new Government ushered in, according to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. However, the huge drop to $359 million in 2020 was a negative outcome due to the COVID-19 impact on travel and tourism.
