Zimbabwe back in the picture
SYDNEY – Bench International has launched a fly-in Zimbabwe safari, on the back of returning consumer confidence in the destination.
The wholesaler’s chairman, Mike Kirkland, said gradual growth in the market during 2009 took a leap in the last three months with Zimbabwe becoming the second most popular of the 15 countries to which Bench sent Australian travellers.
He said that traffic to Zimbabwe for the last quarter amounted to 13 per cent of Bench’s sales and consisted of both group and independent traffic.
Kirkland added, â€What is more significant is that many of the itineraries included areas of Zimbabwe other than Victoria Falls.
“There has been a significant return of interest in places like Hwange National Park and Lake Kariba, where the legendary Bumi Hills property has been re-built.
“Because of its remoteness – nearly 900km from the capital Harare – Victoria Falls has been largely isolated from political problems and has always been a popular stepping off point for Botswana’s Chobe National Park, home to Africa’s largest elephant population, and whitewater rafting activities on the Zambezi.â€
Fiona Orton, product director for Bench, said that many lodges and destinations were reopening to tourists, helped by an improvement in the Zimbabwe economy resulting from the switch from the Zimbabwe dollar to foreign currencies such as the South African Rand, Botswana Pula and the United States Dollar for nearly all transactions in the country.
“As a tourist you wouldn’t know there are shortages of any goods, while infrastructure and tourism-related services are working well.
“I think Zimbabwe has pricked the interest of travellers who are looking for something different,†Orton added.
Ian Jarrett
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