Government engages private sector over hotel room shortages

AS Zimbabwe is gearing up to host three big international events at the end of this month, the
shortage of hotel accommodation has come under the spotlight with the Government engaging the
private sector to attract investment into facilities.

The Government is pushing the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition (Mice) agenda
which thrives on accommodation availability.

Accommodation shortage has seen some conference participants crossing into Livingstone in
Zambia to seek accommodation especially when there are bigger conferences and events.

The tourism capital Victoria Falls has close to 2 000 rooms, a situation that poses challenges
during bigger conferences and events.

An additional 2 000 rooms are needed, hospitality players say.
Zimbabwe has an estimated less than 6 000 hotel rooms in total.

The shortage of accommodation in Victoria Falls has also led to some conferences being moved to
Harare where available rooms are slightly better.

Already, the International Conference on Aids and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa
(ICASA) which Zimbabwe won the bid to host from 3 to 9 December this year has been moved to
Harare because Victoria Falls has no capacity to host between 10 000 and 12 000 people that are
expected to attend.

About 4 500 participants physically attended ICASA 2015 in Harare and over 8 000 attended the
last physical edition in Kigali, Rwanda in 2017, making the conference a big event that needs more
facilities.

Zimbabwe will use the opportunity of hosting the 22nd International Conference
on AIDS and STIs in Africa in 2023 (ICASA 2023)
From April 26 to 29 Victoria Falls will host the 6th edition of the high-level three-day continental
technological and digital event, Transform Africa Summit organised by Smart Africa where more
than 3 000 delegates from over 100 countries are expected to attend.

Rwanda President Paul Kagame who is chair of Smart Africa Board and President Mnangagwa,
alongside other Heads of State who constitute Smart Africa Board, Ministers,
international industry leaders and key players in ICT will attend the event which is being held
outside Rwanda for the first time in its history.

During the same period from April 28 to 30, there will be the Victoria Falls Carnival which has the
potential to attract more than 4 000 people judging by last year’s figures when it had 4 000.
In Bulawayo, from April 25 to April 29 the annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, which
traditionally attracts thousands of people will be held.

Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF)
Accommodation is generally a problem in the city during the ZITF period.
Speaking in Victoria Falls recently, Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry
Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu said Government is engaging the private sector as it
intensifies efforts to attract investment into tourism accommodation with a view to build more
hotels and lodges to cater for anticipated growth.

He said the Second Republic will continue to facilitate foreign and local direct investment riding
on the Zimbabwe is open for business mantra.

“We can only see a shortage of rooms when there is demand for accommodation and we are seeing
a surge in demand hence we need to have a discussion with the industry looking at the
opportunities that are there of extending the number of rooms that we have and looking at the
increasing number of international business conferences that are coming into Zimbabwe
especially in Victoria Falls,” said Minister Ndlovu.

He said Zimbabwe is fast becoming a destination of choice for business conferences hence the
need to also begin to improve product offering in a bid to avail a full package experience.
The minister said in the last three years the tourism sector had received massive investment.

“Government has to encourage private sector players to continue on the investment trajectory, said
Minister Ndlovu.

“While the country is preparing to host these events, we have an uphill task to make sure we are
prepared and have facilities to host them.

“So we will soon be having that discussion with executives of most of the leading hotels to see how
we can close the gap.

“To me it’s more rooms and bigger conference facilities especially here in Victoria Falls.
“Some are booking accommodation across the river in Livingstone, Zambia and while it is good for
our neighbours to also benefit from spin-offs, we want to absorb them in near future,” said
Minister Ndlovu.

A number of new properties have been built in Victoria Falls in the last few years but all of them
have far less than 100 rooms each.

The exit of Kingdom Hotel in Victoria Falls early this year was a huge setback in terms of
accommodation as the facility had close to 300 rooms.

Africa Sun Limited is confident that its listing on the United States dollar denominated bourse,
Victoria Falls Stock Exchange will bolster its plans to expand its facilities.

ASL chair Mr Emmanuel Fundira said the potential and demand in terms of MICE business is
overwhelming.

“Where there is demand there is also an opportunity.
From a private sector point of view, we “are also looking at those opportunities and see how we
can develop new products,” he said. — The Chronicle