Maravi

(TALKZIMBABWE) Zim economy recovering as hotels fill up

Zim economy recovering as hotels fill up
Floyd Nkomo
Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:57:00 +0000

THE occupancy of Zimbabwean hotels has almost doubled in the last year which shows that tourists are returning to the country as its economic and political condition has begun to stabilize.

According to the Zimbabwe Council of Tourism president Emmanuel Fundira, hotels in Zimbabwe have had 60 percent occupancy rates as compared to the 30 percent occupancy last year.

Despite being rich in wildlife and exotic natural beauty, Zimbabwe’s tourism has suffered in the last few years due to the political and economic crisis that has plagued the country’s progress.

Since February, the economy has started showing signs of improvement.

The government this month projected economic growth for this year of 3.7 percent, jumping to 12.5 percent next year and 15 percent on average for the period 2010-2015.

Occupancy rates at tourist-focused hotels, such as those near the Victoria Falls in the northwest border with Zambia, had not fared so well, currently enjoying only 40 percent occupancy, Fundira said.

However, he said the government was still projecting tourism revenues of US$100 million for 2009, compared to just $40 million last year when the country was riven by political violence.

Shingi Munyeza, chief executive of Zimbabwe-based hotel firm African Sun Limited, backed Fundira's view, saying some of his hotels in the country were 70 percent full.

Labels: ECONOMY, TOURISM, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 8:32 PM