The Sunday Mail
Livingstone Marufu —
THE decline of visitors from the country’s major source markets, especially from mainland Africa and Europe, dragged tourist arrivals down three percent to 902 435 during the first half of the year, compared to the same period in 2015.
According to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), last year’s arrivals to Zimbabwe stood at 930 277. Visitors from Africa fell three percent from 811 717 to 748 078, while those from Europe dropped 21 percent from 60 021 to 40 517.
Similarly, tourists from the Middle East and Oceania declined 5 percent and 3 percent to 17 770 and 10 047, respectively. However, arrivals from America rose 36 percent from 27 118 to 36 828 people, while Asia increased by 48 percent from 14 999 to 22 195 during the same period.
The figures are subject to change after the computation of data that is currently missing from Kazungula (May), Victoria Falls Barrier (May and June) and Pandamatenga (May).
Arrivals from America soared as the US dollar appreciated against a basket of world currencies. Asia is believed to be evolving as a dominant source market for the local tourism industry.
Arrivals from mainland Africa fell as a result of declining visitors from South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana and Zambia. It is believed that while most tourist arrivals are from mainland Africa, not all of them end up in hotels as many of them, especially those from the neighbouring countries, resort to cheaper sources of accommodation in lodges as well as at friends and relatives’ houses.
“In the first half of 2016, Zimbabwe received a total of 902 435 tourist arrivals, a three percent decrease from the same period in 2015.
“This decrease was mainly attributable to decreases in tourist arrivals from Zimbabwe’s major source regions, Africa and Europe, which decreased by three percent and 21percent respectively.
“The smaller generating regions also suffered decreases (Middle East five percent and Oceania 31 percent), which fed into the overall decrease for the regions.
“However, two other source regions, America (36 percent) and Asia (48 percent) experienced significant increases.
“The American region performed quite strongly on the back of increases in USA (39percent) and Canada (six percent).
“USA arrivals followed the trend set in the first quarter against a background of an improving economy, falling unemployment and the appreciation of the US Dollar against most currencies,” reads part of ZTA’s first half preliminary statistics.
The performance from Asia was buoyed by Japan (79 percent), China (32 percent) and South Korea (179 percent) – the traditionally dominant source markets in that region.
The increase in Asian tourist arrivals may be attributed to the increased bilateral ties between Zimbabwe and the Asian tigers as well as the country’s Look East policy.
Arrivals from Europe fell by 21percent, with drops in most major markets except in Benelux, France, Germany and Spain. The European market share stood at 5 percent, down 3 percent from 8 percent in 2015.
Despite the reduction in tourist arrivals, Europe remains the greatest overseas market for the country. The national average hotel room occupancy rate increased to 6 291 (42 percent) in the January to June period from 6 228 (41percent) during the same period in 2015.
Harare had the highest average room occupancy rate of 57 percent, followed by Bulawayo (40 percent), Victoria Falls (37 percent), Masvingo (37 percent), Mutare/Vumba (35 percent), Kariba (31 percent) and Nyanga (30 percent).
Although Harare had the highest room occupancy of 57 percent, it has remained unchanged compared to the same period in 2015. Despite the stagnant growth, the current occupancies were achieved through promotions on room rates offered by major hotel groups.
Rainbow Tourism Group, Cresta Group, Meikles Group and African Sun have cut most of their weekend charges with about US$20 to US$30 to improve hotel occupancy.
They are also running promotions of the stay-now-pay-later facility. Conversely, Zambia, which competes for the same market with Zimbabwe, receives fewer tourists.
Average visitor expenditure and length of stay is also limited. However, the Zambian government has introduced a number of incentives to boost the Zambian tourism sector.
Some of the fiscal incentives include the zero percent tax rate on dividends from the year in which first dividends are declared. There is zero percent import duty on capital goods, raw material, machinery and specialised motor vehicles for five years.
There is also deferment of VAT on equipment and machinery, including specialised motor vehicles and trucks.
