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Harare - The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) flagged concern over the declining levels of tourist arrivals from South Africa in a recent report.
According to the 2017 First-Quarter Tourism Performance
report released by the ZTA, South Africa registered a 27% decline in arrivals, from
132 495 during the same quarter last year to 96 587. South Africa
accounted for 30.7% of Zimbabwe’s tourist arrivals during the quarter.
“The stagnation in arrivals from South Africa, the country’s
major market, is of major concern as their market is Zimbabwe’s major market,”
said ZTA.
“This calls for serious consideration in addressing
facilitation issues, especially at Beitbridge. There is also a need to seriously
look at upgrading roads, especially the Harare Beitbridge highway,” said the ZTA
report.
However, overall tourist arrivals into the country were up, with a
6% increase in tourist arrivals in the first quarter of the year as 479 718
tourists entered the country compared to 450 572 during the same period in
the prior year.
The authority attributed the modest increase to the 5% rise
in arrivals from mainland Africa.
Arrivals from mainland Africa registered 400 290 foreign
tourist arrivals - up from 380 790 in 2016, representing a 5% increase.
According to the ZTA, mainland Africa accounts for 84% of tourist arrivals, Europe for 7% of total arrivals and Asia for 3%.
