Zimbabwe's
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Walter Mzembi, has endorsed
Africa Albida Tourism's investments in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, as
fitting his vision to boost infrastructure to vastly grow the tourist
attraction's economy to $30 billion a year. Mzembi was speaking at the
20th anniversary celebrations of Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, which was
attended by more than 200 local and regional tourism operators.
Africa
Albida Tourism, the parent company of Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, has
invested heavily in its properties over the last three years, and work
has begun on Santonga, an $18 million education, entertainment and
conservation park, which will interactively tell the story of Victoria
Falls.
The
new $150 million Victoria Falls International Airport, due to open next
August, which will triple capacity, would be a big player in boosting
earnings to $30 billion a year, to match Niagara Falls, Mzembi said.
Tourism would become the catalyst for the economic turnaround of
Zimbabwe, and the Minister hoped to kick start earnings by declaring
Victoria Falls a special economic zone, which he described as a tax
haven.
He
appealed to local operators to provide input on how to shape his
proposal, which could transform Victoria Falls from its current $1
billion a year economy between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Mzembi is due to
report back to Cabinet next month.
In
addition to the special economic zone, the Minister hoped to create an
"ultra-modern" Victoria Falls on 300ha adjacent to the airport, to boost
infrastructure and therefore earnings.
However, the Minister gave assurances the actual Falls and their immediate surroundings would remain natural and untouched.
Africa
Albida Tourism Chief Executive Ross Kennedy said despite several tough
years for the tourism industry, he believed the future of tourism at
Victoria Falls and in Zimbabwe was extremely bright.
The
Victoria Falls Safari Lodge 20th anniversary four-day celebrations
included an Amazing Race, in which six teams completed challenges at
different sites in Victoria Falls, such as learning a traditional dance
routine and solving a crime scene. It was won by Team Lokuthula.
The
guests also enjoyed the Lodge's daily vulture culture experience, as
well as local delicacies, dancing and drumming at The Boma - Place of
Eating, and dinner at the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge's MaKuwa-Kuwa
Restaurant to the sounds of the Detema Jazz Band. A cruise along the
Zambezi River was also part of the programme, and before guests departed
they went on a tour of the Victoria Falls International Airport under
construction, which is expected to change the face of the region.
Ground
work began at Santonga, to be built on 80ha near Victoria Falls Safari
Lodge, last month. The education, entertainment and conservation park,
which is expected to draw 120,000 visitors a year, is due to open in
June 2016.
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