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Business Reporter
HOSPITALITY group, African Sun Limited, says the recovery in international tourist arrivals and general rise in room occupancy will likely continue as the year progresses leading into the peak summer season.

Having recorded a generally gradual and consistent increase in occupancy in the period to June 2022, closing at 54 percent compared with 28 percent recorded in January 2022, the group says prospects seem brighter ahead.

During the first quarter of the year, the country’s tourism sector registered 352 719 arrivals, up from 164 064 during the same period last year.

The surge was a 115 percent increase in tourist arrivals compared to the same period in 2021.

Tourism receipts also increased by 121 percent this year to $337,5 million.

In an update for the period to June, group chairman, Mr Emmanuel Fundira, said although the recovery has been sustained mainly by the domestic market, uptick in international arrivals was encouraging.

“The group’s business continues to be predominantly domestic driven. However, we have also started to witness signs of recovery on the regional and international market front,” he said.

Foreign business contributed 15 percent towards hospitality revenue, representing a seven percentage point increase from the same period last year.

Mr Fundira said this year tourist arrival levels reflect a recovery of 46 percent compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

“Based on data from STR — a global hospitality industry benchmarking and marketplace insights provider, global occupancy rates increased to 66 percent in June 2022 in comparison to 43 percent in January 2022.

Mr Emmanuel Fundira

“During the same period, the group also recorded a generally gradual and consistent increase in occupancy, closing June 2022 with 54 percent compared with 28 percent recorded in January 2022,” said Mr Fundira.

He said the uptick in international arrivals is gathering pace and points towards a strong second-half of the  year leading into our peak summer season.

Mr Fundira said the first-half of the year delivered performance that exceeded the group’s initial expectation.

“Zimbabwe, like many destinations across the globe, continues to witness encouraging signs of a much accelerated recovery to the pre-pandemic tourism arrival levels,” he said.

THE United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO)

Inspite of the prevailing global economic and geopolitical challenges, the UNTWO revised its outlook for 2022, projecting that international arrivals are now expected to reach 55 percent to 70 percent of 2019 levels.

“We expect recovery of our international business to continue into the second-half of the year,” said Mr Fundira.