A delegation of 343 tourists from China who have keen interests in exploring strategic alliances and business opportunities made their last stop at Victoria Falls – Zimbabwe’s most popular tourist destination located in the north-western corner of the country.
The delegation’s visit to one of the natural wonders of the world included a boat cruise on the Zambezi River capped off by a send-off dinner at Elephant Hills held Sunday evening.
The send-off ceremony was graced by several government dignitaries including Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister, Prisca Mupfumira.
The business and leisure tourists make a short shopping stop-over at kuma market, then lunch at Boma before departing for China late this afternoon.
This completes a four-day tour of the country, an expedition which included a visit to Great Zimbabwe—the largest stone structure in Africa outside of Egypt.
With the sector chasing an ambitious three million visitors by year end and with China being one of the biggest source markets for tourism in the world, the group’s visit is expected to help market the country’s tourist attractions.
Tourist arrivals to Zimbabwe reached 2 579 974 in 2018, six percent up from 2 422 930 received in 2017.
The tourists from China are the first batch of at least 10 000 tourists from the East Asian country expected to visit Zimbabwe in the next five years.
Their visit follows an MoU signed between Touchroad International Holdings Group and Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality, during His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s state visit to China in 2018.
The engagement offered Zimbabwe an opportunity to further raise its profile as an industry hub by showcasing new developments, destinations, offers and providing a platform for companies to network and do business.
“The visit undoubtedly consolidated our visibility to East Asia, apart from also generating much needed foreign currency – the 343 delegation spent well over US$1000 each. We hope to maintain our top-of-mind brand status confirmed by the recent milestone in which we were named the third must-visit destination in the world (by international travel guide, Lonely Planet),” said Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Head of Corporate Affairs Godfrey Koti.
