Opinion / Blogs
Zimbabwe wins the tourist battle against Zambia
20 Apr 2011 at 13:57hrs | Views
It is fast approaching dusk and activities on the historic Victoria Falls Bridge that straddles the Zambian-Zimbabwe border are fast dying down.
The 106-year-old-steel bridge crosses the mighty Zambezi River just below the world famous Victoria Falls and has border posts on the approaches to both ends, at the towns of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Livingstone, Zambia.
The flow of human traffic at the end of the day however betrays a deep rooted rivalry between the two countries that share the global heritage.
Clearly there is a heavier flow of traffic towards the border post on the Zimbabwean side and into the leafy Victoria Falls town.
"Zimbabwe historically tends to take the bulk of foreign visitors because of its more advanced lodge facilities on its side of the border," Chris Kakunta, a Zambian national says.
Inquiries among tour operators and business people around the shared border point however reveals fresh rivalry over visitors to the magnificent site that has been billed one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
At the peak of political and economic turmoil in Zimbabwe, Zambia witnessed a flurry of activity on its side of the border as more foreign visitors flocked the few available lodges to avoid the hostile environment next door.
A political deal between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai however seems to have turned the tables on Zambia.
The two political heads agreed to form a coalition government'leading to improved fortunes for Zimbabwe as some development partners eased sanctions earlier imposed on Harare.
This has now seen more foreigners trooping back to the Zimbabwean side of the border'lured by the more advanced facilities in Victoria Falls Town.
This means that Zimbabwe is tipped to earn more from visitors coming in to marvel at the Victoria Falls, boosting accommodation services on its side of the border.
The resurgence of Victoria Falls town as a tourism hub was further boosted after it successfully hosted a summit of Heads of State from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) in 2009.
"Zambia may have itself to blame because it has not marketed itself well among the foreigners. The accommodation facilities on its side also need to be improved and expanded to pull visitors," Friday Phiri, a Lusaka based journalist says.
Stung by the exploits of Zimbabwe, investors in Zambia are moving to improve accommodation facilities on their side of the border.
A drive on the Mosi-au-Satunya Road that connects Livingstone town to the Victoria Falls reveals massive activity.
Several new lodges are under construction on either side of the road and along the Zambezi River that passes nearby.
"Investors on our side seem to finally be waking up to competition but they need to do more," Mr Kakunta says.
But in what could provide a consolation to Zambia, statistics showed that the Victoria Falls are traditionally more visited by locals'meaning that the country could still cash on domestic tourists who are not necessarily swayed by accommodation needs.
Zambians and Zimbabweans visiting the Victoria Falls outnumber foreigners owing to the ease of access by train and bus unlike the game parks that are more popular with foreign visitors.
Both Zambia and Zimbabwe allow tourists to make cross-border day trips on the Victoria Falls without obtaining a visa in advance, although visas issued at the border are expensive, particularly upon entering Zimbabwe.
But even with such advantage, lack of stringent vetting measures at the gates to Victoria Falls still costs the country fortunes in leaked gate collections.
The staff manning the gates hardly counter-check the nationalities of visitors, leading to huge losses in revenue.
According to the card rates, a foreigner is required to pay $20 before gaining access to the Victoria Falls while locals are charged half that amount.
Because of the lapses in identification procedures, almost all foreigners pose as locals to avoid the charges.
A lot of illegal trade also thrives on the stretch to the Victoria Falls Bridge.
A common activity here is the hawking of the high denomination Zimbabwe dollar notes that have been stretched by super inflation over the years.
"Don't dare touch that money, it could land you in trouble with the authorities," one of our guides warned us as we get lured with a 50 billion note.
Despite the rivalry, the activity on this bridge won't die any time soon.
The bridge is the only rail link between Zambia and Zimbabwe and one of only three road links between the two countries. It carries a road, railway and footway.
aodhiambo@ke.nationmedia.com
The 106-year-old-steel bridge crosses the mighty Zambezi River just below the world famous Victoria Falls and has border posts on the approaches to both ends, at the towns of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe and Livingstone, Zambia.
The flow of human traffic at the end of the day however betrays a deep rooted rivalry between the two countries that share the global heritage.
Clearly there is a heavier flow of traffic towards the border post on the Zimbabwean side and into the leafy Victoria Falls town.
"Zimbabwe historically tends to take the bulk of foreign visitors because of its more advanced lodge facilities on its side of the border," Chris Kakunta, a Zambian national says.
Inquiries among tour operators and business people around the shared border point however reveals fresh rivalry over visitors to the magnificent site that has been billed one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
At the peak of political and economic turmoil in Zimbabwe, Zambia witnessed a flurry of activity on its side of the border as more foreign visitors flocked the few available lodges to avoid the hostile environment next door.
A political deal between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai however seems to have turned the tables on Zambia.
The two political heads agreed to form a coalition government'leading to improved fortunes for Zimbabwe as some development partners eased sanctions earlier imposed on Harare.
This has now seen more foreigners trooping back to the Zimbabwean side of the border'lured by the more advanced facilities in Victoria Falls Town.
This means that Zimbabwe is tipped to earn more from visitors coming in to marvel at the Victoria Falls, boosting accommodation services on its side of the border.
The resurgence of Victoria Falls town as a tourism hub was further boosted after it successfully hosted a summit of Heads of State from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) in 2009.
"Zambia may have itself to blame because it has not marketed itself well among the foreigners. The accommodation facilities on its side also need to be improved and expanded to pull visitors," Friday Phiri, a Lusaka based journalist says.
Stung by the exploits of Zimbabwe, investors in Zambia are moving to improve accommodation facilities on their side of the border.
A drive on the Mosi-au-Satunya Road that connects Livingstone town to the Victoria Falls reveals massive activity.
Several new lodges are under construction on either side of the road and along the Zambezi River that passes nearby.
"Investors on our side seem to finally be waking up to competition but they need to do more," Mr Kakunta says.
But in what could provide a consolation to Zambia, statistics showed that the Victoria Falls are traditionally more visited by locals'meaning that the country could still cash on domestic tourists who are not necessarily swayed by accommodation needs.
Zambians and Zimbabweans visiting the Victoria Falls outnumber foreigners owing to the ease of access by train and bus unlike the game parks that are more popular with foreign visitors.
Both Zambia and Zimbabwe allow tourists to make cross-border day trips on the Victoria Falls without obtaining a visa in advance, although visas issued at the border are expensive, particularly upon entering Zimbabwe.
But even with such advantage, lack of stringent vetting measures at the gates to Victoria Falls still costs the country fortunes in leaked gate collections.
The staff manning the gates hardly counter-check the nationalities of visitors, leading to huge losses in revenue.
According to the card rates, a foreigner is required to pay $20 before gaining access to the Victoria Falls while locals are charged half that amount.
Because of the lapses in identification procedures, almost all foreigners pose as locals to avoid the charges.
A lot of illegal trade also thrives on the stretch to the Victoria Falls Bridge.
A common activity here is the hawking of the high denomination Zimbabwe dollar notes that have been stretched by super inflation over the years.
"Don't dare touch that money, it could land you in trouble with the authorities," one of our guides warned us as we get lured with a 50 billion note.
Despite the rivalry, the activity on this bridge won't die any time soon.
The bridge is the only rail link between Zambia and Zimbabwe and one of only three road links between the two countries. It carries a road, railway and footway.
aodhiambo@ke.nationmedia.com
Source - BusinessDailyAfrica
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