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The Victoria Falls International Airport

Patrick Chitumba recently in Victoria Falls
PLAYERS in the tourism industry have called for more hotels in Victoria Falls and a broadening of the road network to enhance smooth traffic and increased accommodation capacity during international conventions.
Traffic congestion took its toll during the just ended 34 Ordinary Sadc Heads of States and Government Summit in the resort town with scores of delegates failing to get accommodation in local hotels and lodges.

Residents of Mkhosana and Chinotimba suburbs took advantage of the gap to make easy cash from the accommodation woes by offering shelter to desperate delegates.

Driving in the town during the summit was a nightmare because of congestion with some facilities running out of parking space, prompting traffic police officers’ intervention to control vehicular movement.

Some delegates sought shelter in Hwange town about 100km away with the neighbouring Zambian town of Livingstone also feasting on the  spoils.

Tourism players told Business Chronicle after the summit on Monday that Victoria Falls was fast growing into an international conference destination and the sector stands to reap more profits with increased facilities.

Barbara Murasiranwa, a representative of Zimbabwe Council of Tourism said:
“There is a need for urgent improvement in our infrastructure because we have been found wanting. This summit has been oversubscribed and individuals cashed in by offering their houses as accommodation to some delegates,” she said.

Murasiranwa expressed concern over traffic congestion during the summit but commended the government for the expansion project taking place at Victoria Falls International Airport.

Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Victoria Falls chairperson, Jonathan Hudson, said the fact that more and more conferences were being held in Victoria Falls was vital for the growth of the tourism sector.

“The major problem is that such big summits come at the peak of tourism arrivals. We want them because they give us business but we rather prefer them when we are not busy, say from January and April,” he said.

Mayor, Councillor Sifiso Mpofu commended the government for bringing the summit to Victoria Falls saying the event brought cheer to most people.

He said all hotels, lodges, supermarkets, food outlets and clothing shops recorded brisk business, including individual residents.
“It was a very well organised summit and we saw even residents benefiting financially. We hope and pray that more conferences come this way,” Clr Mpofu said.

However, some players feared that establishing more facilities was not ideal arguing that increased arrivals in the town were seasonal, meaning most facilities would be underutilised during off-peak seasons.

Clr Mpofu said Victoria Falls and Zimbabwe at large had been well marketed as the event drew diplomats and members of the media from as far as China.

Last year Victoria Falls successfully co-hosted the prestigious United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly with Livingstone.

This year the resort town also hosted Routes Africa and the African Society for Blood Transfusion summits among many local conferences.