The recent easing of COVID-19-related travel restrictions, and particularly the removal of mandatory quarantine, by the Zimbabwean government, has been hailed a “lifesaver” for tourism by Victoria Falls-based hospitality group Africa Albida Tourism (AAT).

The government announced late last month that quarantine had been lifted for fully vaccinated arrivals to Zimbabwe, although a negative COVID-19 test taken within 48-hours of departure for Zimbabwe is still required for entry.

This was a welcome relief for a number of operators, who alerted Tourism Update to the fact that, although Zimbabwe never formally implemented the 10-day mandatory quarantine (brought in last year after the COVID variant, Omicron, was discovered), it still resulted in the cancellation of a number of bookings.

The ‘We Are Victoria Falls’ collective – an independent, public-private partnership initiative representing the tourism community of Victoria Falls – worked closely  with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Tourism to ensure there was official documentation showing that the quarantine was not mandatory. 

AAT CEO, Ross Kennedy, said he hoped the move would herald the start of a buoyant 2022 for tourism, and operators were looking forward to once again welcoming visitors from around the globe to the destination.

“The pent-up demand for Zimbabwe and the region can now be unlocked, and the impact should be incredibly positive for all in the travel, tourism and hospitality sector,” he said.

The easing of travel restrictions in source markets, such as the UK, had also provided a major boost to potential arrivals from April, with bookings across Victoria Falls Safari Lodge estate’s 98 rooms already at 52 per cent for that month, as well as longer-term forward bookings for 2023, he added.

“The activity and forward planning for the region, as witnessed by the Africa’s Eden travel show next week in Victoria Falls, coupled with new airline access and support, is immense, making now an incredible time to plan your next trip and travel.

“Tourism is the fourth pillar of our economy, a significant employer and foreign currency earner, so the easing of these regulations will have further positive impacts on communities, conservation and downstream benefits for the economy,” said Kennedy.

Airline access boosted

He noted that access to Victoria Falls and the region had been boosted by a number of airlines resuming flights following suspension when the Omicron variant of COVID-19 was identified by South African scientists in late November.

Airlines currently flying into Victoria Falls are fastjet, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, British Airways (operated by Comair), Airlink, Air Zimbabwe and Mack Air, as well as charter airlines, while Emirates has resumed flights to Harare.

The Lufthansa Group’s new leisure airline, Eurowings Discover, will start flying to Victoria Falls from March 30, increasing Frankfurt-Windhoek flights to a daily service, with a Windhoek-Victoria Falls-Windhoek tag flight three times a week.

In addition, on June 30 fastjet will introduce four flights a week between Victoria Falls and Maun, gateway to Botswana’s Okavango Delta, as well as flights between Victoria Falls and Nelspruit, near South Africa’s Kruger National Park, from March 16, linking the region’s prime tourist destinations.

Altogether, 99% of staff currently working at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and, according to latest available official figures, so has 86% of Victoria Falls’ adult population.