Tuesday, January 11, 2022
The once popular Lion & Cheetah Park, located 25 kilometers west of Harare, is majorly empty, with handful visitors in all these months in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic. Even though Wengayi Nhau, president of Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe, believes that prospects for the sector in 2022 are bright. However, to coronavirus, even Chinhoyi Caves, once a tourist hub, has lost visitors and business is in despair, according to tourism activists. Cleveland dam every day used to attract hundreds of indigenous tourists a year ago but with the advent of coronavirus that is no more.
“Very few people come here now since coronavirus broke out, necessitating a series of lockdowns to defeat the disease. There is very little activity as you can see,” a security guard who manned the gate at the popular dam, told Anadolu Agency.
In the vicinity of Chinhoyi Caves, Mike Nharire, 32, who has over the years sold stone sculptors to tourists, has fallen on hard times.
“I have no money. Business is very low now since the government previously ordered closure of tourist spots and it means no money for us depending on providing services to tourists,” said Nharire.
Due to the impacts of COVID-19, the travel advice level has been lowered to ‘Reconsider your need to travel’ to Zimbabwe and disturbances in global travel. Many countries continue to limit entry or transit of travellers from Zimbabwe.
Tags: Zimbabwe Tourism
