The prevailing Covid-19 pandemic literally
decimated the tourism industry with the restrictions on international travel.
Most countries, Zimbabwe included were left
with the option of domestic tourism which over the years had not been promoted
as the industry reveled in international clients.
With the slow relaxation of lockdowns,
regional travel has also come in as an option in the absence of international
tourists, but lack of investment in intra-Africa tourism negates the
development.
Speaking while celebrating Matetsi Victoria
Falls Luxury Lodge's award as the best hotel in Africa for 2021, in Victoria
Falls recently, Ndlovu said Zimbabwe's tourism needs a robust marketing
strategy.
Then country is pushing the ZimBho campaign
and wants an international strategy to attract travellers back into the
country.
"We have not fully marketed our country.
We held a meeting in Cape Verde recently where we looked at how to promote
intra Africa travel.
Countries need connecting flights so that
travel between out nations becomes available and affordable. So while we are
marketing our countries, let's also make travel affordable for our
people," he said.
Tourists into Zimbabwe and other countries
from the region have to fly into South Africa to connect to their destination.
The country used to have direct flights to
Windhoek in Namibia, Nairobi in Kenya and Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
Other long-haul flights come via South Africa.
Turning to Matetsi, Ndlovu said the award is a
proud moment for the industry and country and a true reflection of the hard
work and attention to detail and excellence.
"These are sacrifices that we don't take
lightly as we want to celebrate with them this massive achievement. To the
whole industry I say, here is your peer who has raised the bar. We just need to
continue upping our game and market our country. Destination Zimbabwe is
certainly the best in Africa, and we have to maintain that," he said.
The lodge which is located about 40km outside
Victoria Falls along Zambezi River, excelled through quality service to clients
and unmatched conservation work.
The lodge has trained its own scouts who will
be protecting fauna and flora.
Before training an in-house anti-poaching
unit, Matetsi had to contend with the expensive anti-poaching inland and along
the Zambezi river where illegal hunters, mostly from across the river in
Zambia.
Five years ago, there were literally no
animals left in the Matetsi concession because of poaching and vandalism of
water sources and Matetsi installed solar boreholes which has resulted in
sustainable supply and return of hundreds of animals including four of the Big
Five.
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