Staff Writer
Zimbabwe’s tourist arrivals increased by 62% percent to 529 078 in the first six months of 2023, according to latest sector performances highlights by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
This means tourism receipts grew by 16% to US$343,1 million compared to the same period last year.
In the first six months of the year, investment into Zimbabwe’s tourism sector grew by almost 100 percent to US$96,5 million.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority is attributing the sector’s continued positive performance to various marketing and investment initiatives.
In first half of 2023, tourist arrivals were 148340 compared to 2022 where arrivals were 133776.
And from the African continent arrivals shot up 91 percent from 232286 in 2022 to 443184 in 2023.
Interestingly, average hotel occupancy was 39 percent in 2022 while this year was 41 percent.
ZTA Chief Executive, Ms Winnie Muchanyuka has been calling for the Tourism and Hospitality Industry to collaborate with government in bidding for Meetings Incentives Conferences Exhibitions Tourism (MICE) events.
Speaking at the 2022 edition of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe Congress in Victoria Falls, Muchanyuka encouraged the hospitality industry to continue working closely with the ZTA and other government arms to jointly formulate strategies to bid for more MICE business.
She said there wa a lot of potential for us to create more MICE business locally and called for more collaborated approach as a sector.
The first half of 2022 saw 5705 functions being hosted while 354553 participants attended the MICE events at national level.
Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare/Vumba regions dominated most in terms of functions held, accounting for a combined 71% at national level.
Harare Province continues to dominate mice business followed by Bulawayo and Mutare/Vumba.
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