THE current presidium of the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe (TBCZ) will continue to lead the organisation until June 6, after the 2024 annual general meeting held this month decided to defer elections and constitutional changes.
The decision was unanimous to reconvene in order for all outstanding member subscriptions to be brought up to date and for constitutional amendments and updates to be drafted and circulated.
“The deferment will allow all necessary work regarding subscription payments and constitutional changes to take place and for the election of office bearers for the coming year to take place with a properly convened assembly,” TBCZ president Wengayi Nhau, who was asked by the meeting to defer his retirement until that time, said.
“The new meeting date will also facilitate attendance by key partners, such as the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), who were not present for the March 7 AGM because of attendance at the funeral of former ZTA chief executive Karikoga Kaseke.”
The TBCZ secretariat will undertake all preparatory work for the reconvened meeting, which was set for June 6.
The TBCZ is the representative association for all travel and tourism operators and is the umbrella body for 15 sectoral sub-associations.
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According to the latest statistics from ZTA, the country’s tourism receipts increased by 27% last year to reach US$1,16 billion, while international tourist arrivals stood at 1,6 million, up 54% in prior year.
In 2022, the sector recorded US$911 million in revenues. The tourism industry was hardest hit as the world imposed travel restrictions and national lockdowns to combat Covid-19. The statistics also indicate that the value of investments into the tourism sector last year declined by 45% to US$172 million from US$312,5 million in the prior year.
Average hotel room occupancy stood at 47%, up from 44% recorded in 2022.
The tourists were mainly from the traditional source markets that include Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
The statistics show that domestic trips increased by 7% to sit at 13,17 million, thanks to various tourism campaigns.
In December 2023, the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry launched the festive season domestic tourism campaign dubbed ZIMBHO–Uripi-Ungaphi (Where are you)?
The launch was taken to all provinces in the country and the overall goal of the campaign was to drive economic growth through encouraging Zimbabweans to travel within Zimbabwe and also those living in the diaspora to travel within Zimbabwe.
Positive results were recorded from the targeted campaigns to boost the country’s tourism sector as the number of visitors to the local resorts grew significantly during the festive season on the back of a rise in domestic tourism.
The launch of the domestic tourism festive season campaign alone drew an attendance of about 28 000 local people from across the country.
Official figures show that there was also increased traffic at ports of entries from December 21 to January 2, with a total of 22 783 entries.
Beitbridge facilitated the highest number of entries at 87 697, while Victoria Falls International Airport received 26 206 and Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport 25 147 arrivals.
Local hotels recorded an increased occupancy rate with the biggest block of occupants being locals.