Dipping tourism numbers cause for ‘big concern’

HARARE – Tourism numbers to Zimbabwe have dipped by more than a quarter over the July to September months last year compared with the same period over 2004, a cause for “major concern” an official report has said.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) released the report late Friday saying that tourist figures to the southern African country hit by economical and political hardship slipped by 27 per cent in the third quarter compared to the previous year. The state-run ZTA said “a total of 336 971 tourists came into the country in the third quarter of 2005, representing a 27 per cent decrease compared to 463 471 tourists who came into the country during the same period in 2004.”The ZTA – set up to promote tourism to Zimbabwe which is suffering chronic forex and fuel shortages – noted a general decrease in arrivals, “particularly from the overseas market.”Zimbabwe’s tourism industry, once a major foreign currency earner, went into a tailspin over the last six years as Europeans and visitors from the United States shun the country following controversial parliamentary polls which foreign observers said had been rigged by President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party.Government launched a ‘Look East’ policy two years ago to forge closer ties with China and Malaysia, hoping for an influx of oriental visitors.In addition China granted Zimbabwe approved destination status promoting Zimbabwe to be a recommended holiday destination for its nationals.The ZTA report showed that China and Hong contributed only two per cent of total tourist arrivals in Zimbabwe from July to September last year.European tourists accounted for 57 per cent, the United States for 22 per cent and the rest of Asia excluding China, 15 per cent.- Nampa-AFPThe state-run ZTA said “a total of 336 971 tourists came into the country in the third quarter of 2005, representing a 27 per cent decrease compared to 463 471 tourists who came into the country during the same period in 2004.”The ZTA – set up to promote tourism to Zimbabwe which is suffering chronic forex and fuel shortages – noted a general decrease in arrivals, “particularly from the overseas market.”Zimbabwe’s tourism industry, once a major foreign currency earner, went into a tailspin over the last six years as Europeans and visitors from the United States shun the country following controversial parliamentary polls which foreign observers said had been rigged by President Robert Mugabe’s ruling party.Government launched a ‘Look East’ policy two years ago to forge closer ties with China and Malaysia, hoping for an influx of oriental visitors.In addition China granted Zimbabwe approved destination status promoting Zimbabwe to be a recommended holiday destination for its nationals.The ZTA report showed that China and Hong contributed only two per cent of total tourist arrivals in Zimbabwe from July to September last year.European tourists accounted for 57 per cent, the United States for 22 per cent and the rest of Asia excluding China, 15 per cent.- Nampa-AFP