'Victoria Falls marketing inadequate'

Stakeholders in the tourism sector have expressed worry that locals are not benefiting from tourist revenues at Victoria Falls with regional countries such as South Africa and Zambia making more from the resort situated in Zimbabwe.

Stakeholders who spoke to the ZBC said the trend of marketing the Victoria Falls resort seems to be more enhanced in the region than locally.

Nyati Travel and Tours Operations Manager, Mr Goof de Jong said South Africa and Zambia have been benefiting more from the tourist destination despite Zimbabwe being the prime sight of one of the seven's natural wonders of the world.


"It is worrisome and we need to work hard to promote the Victoria Falls. The marketing should however not concentrate on Victoria Falls alone but every place of interest throughout the country," Mr de Jong said.

Hotel Association of Zimbabwe President, Mr Tamuka Macheka said all players need to work together to come up with a vigorous marketing strategy that will see locals benefiting more and tourists coming directly into Zimbabwe.

"This is not a Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) problem alone. In my view they are trying their best, but all operators need to come together and work towards making Victoria Falls and other destinations marketable," he said.

The larger portion of the Victora Falls is located on the Zimbabwean side where tourists have the best view of the natural wonder.

However, regional countries such as South Africa and Zambia seem to derive more benefit because of their aggressive marketing strategies which experts say Zimbabwe lacks.