Festive season occupancies average 50% in Zimbabwe

Gamma Mudarikiri

RESORT hotel occupancies averaged 50,2% over the 15-day period to January 3 while national hotel occupancies were at 38%, weighed down by the low performance of city hotels, according to figures released by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA). Victoria Falls had the highest average of 77%, with about 15 000 visitors in the resort town. Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe president Tich Hwingwiri said the Christmas and New Year holidays were eventful and brought brisk business to the industry. Resort hotels and lodges were fully booked during the period, he said. The highest occupancy average was 99% on New Year’s Eve. According to Hwingwiri, most of the hotel operators in Victoria Falls attributed the growth in occupancy numbers to the annual Falls Fest, an arts festival, and other promotional packages put in place by operators and bus companies. ZTA CEO Karikoga Kaseke said the tourism sector was coming from a low base where there was negative perception about Zimbabwe, but the situation had improved owing to aggressive marketing by players in the tourism sector. “We are however not happy about city hotels’ performance, (over the festive season) which failed to beat the forecast of 45% occupancy,” Kaseke said. City Hotel occupancies over the period were at 28%. However, during the course of the year, the occupancies of city hotels improved owing to Copac Outreach programmes. Rainbow Tourism Group occupancies were at 33%, with FD Paschal Changunda saying the period had good occupancies for the resort hotels, which were mostly fully occupied for the period. He said the performance of the city hotels, which were generally quiet during the festive season, broadly diluted overall occupancy rates for the group. Of the occupancies, Changunda said, 70% were local while 30% were foreign visitors.