Bungee jumps suspended at Victoria Falls

HARARE — A Zimbabwean tourism company has suspended bungee jumps at Victoria Falls while they investigate an accident in which a tourist plunged into the Zambezi River, a spokesman said Thursday.

"We voluntarily suspended bungee jumping for two days (from Wednesday) to allow an audit of the accident that happened" after a cord snapped, Shearwater Adventures spokesman Clement Mukwasi told AFP.

"This was to allow the auditors, management and crew the opportunity to analyse the causes of the broken cord and review the new system and procedures without distractions."

Jumps could resume from the weekend, he added.

On New Year's Eve, 22-year-old Australian Erin Langworthy jumped from the Victoria Falls bridge and fell head-first into the Zambezi River, 111 metres (364 feet) below.

The hair-raising accident was caught on video and Langworthy is seen hitting the water with her feet still tied before being swept towards rapids on the river, which separates Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Langworthy managed to avoid any crocodiles and swim to the Zimbabwe side of the river, where she hauled herself out.

She suffered a fractured collar bone and severe bruising and was taken to South Africa for treatment.

Mukwasi said "all other activities including bridge swings, slides tours and the restaurant facility will continue as normal."

Zambia's tourism minister Given Lubinda on Sunday took a bungee jump in an attempt to assure tourists of its safety.

Tourism is the life blood of the towns of Victoria Falls and Livingstone in Zambia, where upmarket resorts attract visitors from around the world.

Mukwasi said the probability of an accident was one in 50,000 jumps a year.

Zim hotels to drive African Sun growth.

Hospitality group, African Sun, has achieved substantial revenue growth for the first time since the inception of dollarisation in 2009 owing to the adoption of a viable business model, group chief executive officer Shingi Munyeza has said. Revenue from continuing operations during the year ending September 30 2011 stood at US$48 796 506 up 22% from US$39 947 181 achieved during the same period last year.

The group’s southern African operations contributed US$48 018 485 to total revenue while West African business contributed US$778 021. Munyeza said the group’s operations in Zimbabwe had performed exceptionally well.

Speaking at an analysts briefing last week, Munyeza pointed out that the hospitality group would focus on ensuring that the Zimbabwe hotels spew out more cash as well as keeping an eye out for management contracts that may arise in the region. “On our strategy going forward, we intend on dominating the Zimbabwean market which has proved to be profitable,” said Munyeza, adding that there would be no underlying costs from regional growth.

African Sun intends to acquire long-term lease arrangements, management contracts and engage in partnerships with property developers.
This strategy, he said, should lead to the group growing from the current 2 926 rooms under management to 5 500 rooms by 2012. African Sun operates and manages a hotel in Ghana, five in Nigeria and 13 in Zimbabwe.

“At fiscal level, we need the issue of Air Zimbabwe to be urgently addressed as the absence of a domestic flight is negatively impacting business,” said Munyeza.

Caribbea Bay resort and Hwange Safari lodge have been negatively affected by access issues, but Munyeza said the group is devising strategies of routing excess traffic from the Victoria Falls to Hwange.

He said that conferencing business in Victoria Falls is picking up at a much faster pace than anticipated.
“Although there are 28 flights per week into Victoria Falls, a capacity increase of 300% is required in this area,” he said.

With regard to access market developments, Munyeza said the increase of 43 weekly flights to Harare and the introduction of Emirates flights into Harare by February next year, bodes well for the group.

Before February 2009, the protracted wrangling between the country’s main rival political parties had resulted in the plummeting of international flights into the country, negatively affecting tourism arrivals.

The group’s finance director Nigel Mangwiro said the disposal of the Grace and Lakes hotels in South Africa, as well as restructuring the head office had an impact on the business model. African Sun pulled out of an operating agreement with the South African hotels earlier this year citing depressed business volumes and escalating costs.

“The business model is looking positive from a cash flow perspective as the restructuring exercise will bring about savings of at least US$2,4 million per year,” he said, adding that this development would have positive trickle down effects on the bottom line.

First global tourism destination alliance launched

The IIPT Peace Through Tourism conference in Zambia was the venue for the pre-launch for the International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) first global travel and tourism destination alliance.

The CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Alain St.Ange and chairman of the International Council of Tourism Partners eTN Publisher Juergen Thomas Steinmetz used Lusaka, Zambia IIPT conference "Meeting the Challenges of Climate Change to Tourism" to make a pre-launch announcement for the new International Council of Tourism Partners destination alliance.

ICTP members will actively support national Green Growth strategies and Carbon Targets and: they will be identified as committed to sustainable Travel & Tourism.
They will receive on line Sustainability Support from greenearth.travel and marketing support by a world class team of marketing professionals.

Greenearth will help them understand the issues and opportunities in Green Growth – economic / climate / social / environment linkages and balance.
Through the Live the Deal program they will be able to understand in simple terms, their governments’ carbon reduction targets as well as best global techniques and technologies for their own programs. It will also provide a source of information and guidance for employees.

ICTP alliance members will benefit from joint marketing and branding opportunities in primary and secondary markets. It may be ideal for smaller to medium size destinations whenever one destination is not able to do it alone. It will include trade shows, road shows, telephone and virtual meetings with tourism stake holders, joint media outreach on a global scale.

The global travel alliance is:
• Ideal for small to medium size destination
• A joint marketing effort. When one destination is unable to do it alone (i.e. provide representation at trade shows, organize/present electronic and virtual conferences, public relations, publicity, advertising and sales promotions projects), the synergy of the alliance will enable even the smallest destination to have representation
• Joint media outreach through the organization of media conferences in primary and secondary markets
• Strategic alliances for public – private partnership development
• Shared market research projects
• Development of a domestic /international Smart Card reward system for trade professionals and leisure travelers

Board of Directors
The alliance initial board members include Geoffrey Lipman, director of Greenearth, former assistance secretary General for the UNWTO, and first president of the WTTC (World Travel and Tourism Council)

Feisol Hashim, owner of the Alam Hotel Group in Indonesia and former head of ASEAN Tourism, and former member of the PATA industry board. Feisol is also the Hon. Consul for Malaysia in Bali, Indonesia.

Alain St.Ange: Head of the Seychelles Tourism Board and pioneer of the world famous Seychelles Carnival.

Juergen Thomas Steinmetz: Publisher of eTurboNews, member of the UNWTO Task Group against exploitation of children through tourism, member of the
US Department of Commerce Export Council, member of the PATA industry board.

Besides the Seychelles and Zimbabwe additional founding members in various parts of the world are interested to join as founding members before the official launch at the World Travel Market in London in November. They include cities, regions and countries on all continents. Their goal is to increase business for alliance member destinations.

The International Institute for Peace Through Tourism and the Africa Travel Association pledged their willingness to cooperate with this new alliance.

The secretariat will be operated in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, Brussels, Belgium and Victoria, Seychelles. A new web portal will be introduced before the World Travel Market.

Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) Postpones Levy on Passengers

Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) has backtracked on the implementation of the Aviation Infrastructure Development Fund (AIDF) levy, an extra user charge that would have seen passengers departing from local airports paying US$10 and US$30 per person for domestic and international travel respectively.
The AIDF levy was introduced on May 1 as part of the authority's efforts to raise US$400 million to upgrade local aviation infrastructure.
Passengers are already paying US$ 35 and US$ 10 per head as a service fee for international and domestic routes respectively.
These current passenger service fees are normal operating charges for services rendered to travellers from the time they enter the airport until they get into the aircraft.
n a statement at the weekend, CAAZ chief executive officer, Mr David Chawota, advised all airlines, travel agents and the travelling public and other concerned stakeholders that the implementation of the AIDF levy had been postponed.
He said postponement was a result of unforeseen logistical and administrative challenges.
"Passengers who had been charged the levy should approach the relevant airline, travel agent or airport authority for a refund.
"Airlines and travel agents who had collected AIDEF levies should not remit the funds to CAAZ but refund the passengers," he said in the statement.
Mr Chawota said that CAAZ would inform the airlines, travel agents, the travelling public and concerned stakeholders of the new implementation date in due course.
The fund was to be used for rehabilitation and modernisation of aviation infrastructure to enhance safety and security in Zimbabwe.
The fees were included on air tickets except in special circumstances where cash payment may have been required.
CAAZ had taken the new initiative to raise US$400 million in the next 10 years to rehabilitate airports and fund airspace management facilities among others. Once the aviation infrastructure was uplifted in the project, CAAZ would be able to play its critical role in the provision of services for the country's fast growing tourism sector.
Mr Chawota said last month that the authority had to play its critical facilitation role by availing necessary accessibility into the country as the best tourism market.
The upgrading and refurbishment of infrastructure at Harare International Airport started in 2002 but stalled in 2007 because of harsh economic conditions. Other airports requiring upgrading are Victoria Falls International Airport, Kariba, Joshua Nkomo International Airport, Hwange and Buffalo Range.

Government should open up the country’s air space to allow other airlines to compete with Air Zimbabwe!

Government should open up the country’s air space to allow other airlines to compete with Air Zimbabwe and boost tourist arrivals to Zimbabwe.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Walter Mzembi last week challenged government to license more private players in the airlines sector to enhance Zimbabwe’s destination accessibility.

“There is no doubt that Air Zimbabwe has let the tourism industry down. At a time when we had 45 airlines flying into Zimbabwe Air Zimbabwe was at its best competing for customers like everyone else.

“You discourage other airlines from flying into your country — nothing will move. We need to liberalise our skies. Air Zimbabwe must be a little smarter. British Airways hardly owns any aircraft and I believe this romanticism where we want to own aircraft is old-fashioned,” Mzembi said.

The Tourism minister was speaking at the launch of Zimbabwe’s new tourism brand — Zimbabwe World of Wonders — to the local market at a Bulawayo hotel.

Vice-President John Nkomo officiated.
Mzembi said Zimbabwe’s destination accessibility and connectivity was of concern to tourists as it affected their movement.

“In 1996 we had 45 international carriers servicing Zimbabwe from different international source markets. Today, we are down to less than 10 and the price of flights is too high.

“It now costs $800 to fly between Harare and Johannesburg, an amount that flies a tourist between Johannesburg and New York on a budget flight. Under normal circumstances, can such prices promote tourism and enable us to achieve the critical mass of valuables into Zimbabwe?” Mzembi asked.

The government, he said, should decentralise policymaking to ensure equal investment and equal opportunities for the people in all areas.

Zimbabwe:: Lobbies to Co-Host Tourism Conference

Zimbabwe has started lobbying other countries in the region to jointly host the 2013 UN World Tourism Organisation General Assembly in Victoria Falls alongside Livingstone in Zambia.
The conference will attract around 3 000 delegates from about 180 countries, which will help promote the country as a prime tourist destination.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi said he was enthusiastic about getting the chance to host the conference as it brings the "two sister republics (Zimbabwe and Zambia) together" .
Zimbabwe has a seat on the UNWTO and winning the bid to host the conference will be a major coup for the country and Southern Africa as a whole.
"I like the idea of dedicating one of the roundtables to gain support for our bid to host the 2013, UNWTO General Assembly in Victoria Falls/ Livingstone," he said.
Mr Mzembi will be a keynote speaker at this year's International Institute for Peace through Tourism African Conference, which will be held in Zambia from May 15 to 20 under the theme "Meeting the challenges of climate change to tourism in Africa and the developing world".
The aim of the conference is to showcase models of best practice in mitigating and addressing the anticipated impacts of climate change to tourism in Africa and the developing world.
In 2007, the UNWTO, jointly with the United Nations Environment Programme and World Meteorological Organisation convened the second International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism in Switzerland.
The conference set out a range of specific policies and actions to be taken by all stakeholders in the tourism sector to immediately begin implementation of a long-term carbon-neutral roadmap.
This year's conference will seek to identify actual progress made since the 2007 conference with case studies of best practices from each of the developing regions of the world and from among governments, destinations and industry sectors.

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe — "Tourists are back!

Victoria Falls- Zimbabwe — "Tourists are back!" said Knowledge, all smiles at the Victoria Falls tourism office.
His sentiment is shared widely in this resort town on the edge of the mile-wide waterfall, where it's hard to remember that three years ago Zimbabwe was trapped in a seemingly endless spiral of hyperinflation, hunger and political violence.
Victoria Falls had become a ghost town as tourists opted for the comforts and safety of resorts on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River, where the once sleepy town of Livingstone enjoyed a tourism boom as Zimbabwe collapsed.
"The Zambian side has definitively profited from all the problems in Zimbabwe," said Sarah, who sells excursions for at the Zambezi Sun, part of a South African hotel chain that opened on the Zambian side in 2001.
Hotels, lodges and other tourist attractions have mushroomed over the past decade around Livingstone, which became so popular that it now boasts several daily direct flights to South Africa.
But a brand new curio market on the main road lies empty as tourists fly in and hop across the border.
"We are not happy, the situation is bad," said the Livingstone Tourism Association. "They come here for activities and they go to Zimbabwe for accommodation."
Livingstone still runs a brisk trade in business travel by hosting conferences and corporate team-building workshops, but now faces stiff competition with Victoria Falls for leisure travellers.
Zimbabwe's tourism earnings jumped 47 percent last year to $770 million, as the number of visitors rose 15 percent to 2.3 million nationally, with Victoria Falls the country's biggest attraction, according to the tourism ministry.
Tourism minister Walter Mzembi hopes to grow that number to five billion dollars by 2015.
"However, this is on condition that the current peace and stability in the country prevails and the country is able to spin a more positive image of itself," he told reporters last month.
Since Zimbabwe adopted the US dollar two years ago, prices are lower in Victoria Falls than in Livingstone, where entrance to the derelict Railway Museum costs $15 for foreigners.
"It is cheaper here, and people can walk to the falls. They don't have to take a taxi or whatever," said Duni, a Victoria Falls hawker offering sunset cruises, helicopter rides, rafting, bungee jumps and safaris to passers-by on the sidewalk.
While Victoria Falls sits at the river edge, Livingstone is 10 kilometres (six miles) away, with a fleet of blue taxis shuttling visitors around for $10 a pop.
Opinion is divided on which side offers the better view of the 108-metre (360-foot) high falls, though the Zimbabwean side has a greater variety of viewpoints.
Confident in its renaissance, Victoria Falls has asked for Chinese aid to expand its airport to accommodate bigger planes.
But the throngs of street vendors trailing tourists are a constant reminder that it's still not business as usual.
Among the souvenirs on offer, a 100-trillion-dollar note from the old Zimbabwe currency, a worthless amount during the age of hyperinflation. Its relegation to the trinket shelves is what allowed to Victoria Falls to welcome visitors again.

Zimbabwe:: Nation Eyes Middle East Tour Operators

UAE, Dubai — The 18th edition of the Arabian Travel Mart officially opened in Dubai yesterday featuring more than 320 main exhibitors, 69 countries and 57 national tourist organisations representatives including the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
Zimbabwe this year is not exhibiting but its representatives are participating as trade delegates.
Expounding on Zimbabwe's participation at this important trade exhibition for travel and tourism professionals, ZTA chief executive, Mr Karikoga Kaseke, who is leading the Zimbabwean delegation, said the trade event and Zimbabwe's involvement is more business focused.
"It is a contract signing show and a platform to connect with this lucrative market.
"We are looking at strategic partnerships with leading outbound tour operators and airlines from this region," said Kaseke.
The ZTA boss also revealed that in line with the tourism marketing and growth strategy for the Arabian Travel Market, they have segmented their market into two that is; primary and secondary markets.
"In this region our primary market includes the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Kuwait, Israel, Syrian Republic and Saudi Arabia.
"Our secondary market has Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Yemen and Jordan.
"Regarding these markets we are targeting key stakeholders such as outbound tour operators, regional and international airlines, the media and investors," he said.
According to the International Monetary Fund, real GDP growth is focused to increase by 4 percent in the Middle-East, with Qatar registering 20 percent, Iraq 10 percent and Saudi Arabia 8 percent.
These situations according to some economic analysts will be offset by an economic slowdown or contradiction in countries like Egypt, Tunisia and Libya where there is political and civil unrest.
To Zimbabwe among other emerging destinations in Southern Africa, the situation obtaining in the North though undesirable in the spirit of Pan-Africanism and nationhood presents a business opportunity as an alternative destination.
The ATM as an established and successful outbound and regional trade within the Mid-East and Gulf region provides an opportunity to increase destination awareness, confidence and reconnecting with both retail agencies and tourism wholesalers.