Sports tourism a low hanging fruit for Zim

Enacy Mapakame

The upcoming Zim-Open Golf Tournament is an opportunity for the country to tap into the vast and multi-billion-dollar sports tourism sector, helping to enhance the growth of the local economy in general.

Sports tourism is a type of tourism activity that refers to the travel experience of the tourist who either observes as a spectator or actively participates in a sporting event generally involving commercial and non-commercial activities of a competitive nature, according to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

The global sports tourism market was valued at US$564,7 billion in 2023 and is projected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 10 percent between 2024 and 2030.

Speaking at the launch of the FBC Zim-Open Golf Tournament, sponsor FBC Holdings (FBCH) chief executive officer (CEO) Mr Trynos Kufazvinei acknowledged the role of the sports industry in boosting tourism and its potential in Zimbabwe. The tournament itself attracts participants from across the globe, creating scope for the group to partner with the prestigious sport. For this edition, FBCH is sponsoring it to the tune of US$200 000.

“The Zimbabwe Open Golf tournament attracts top golfers from across the globe, the African continent, and Zimbabwe,” said Mr Kufazvinei at the launch in Harare.

“The sporting event plays a strategic role in driving socio-economic development through promoting sports tourism and building international relations,” he said.

This year’s edition will see top Zimbabwean golfers – siblings Scott and Kieran Vincent, and Robson Chinhoi taking part in the tournament that will be held at Royal Harare. Sports tourism is a fundamental axis, generating around 10 percent of the world’s expenditure on tourism, and is, according to the UNWTO, one of the fastest-growing sectors in tourism as more tourists are interested in sports activities during their trips whether sports are the main objective of travel or not.

For a country like Zimbabwe, sports tourism’s potential cannot be overlooked. Recent events like hosting the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup qualifiers have put Harare and Bulawayo on the global map, buzzing with international fans.

Both domestic and international visitors have provided a welcome boost to the hospitality industry, showcasing Zimbabwe’s ability to stage world-class sporting events.

Outside cricket, Zimbabwe also offers a unique blend of sporting adventures among them white water rafting down the mighty Zambezi River or teeing off on a championship golf course overlooking Victoria Falls.

The Kariba Tiger Fishing Tournament is another example of the sporting activities the country offers boosting the tourism industry.

Despite the vast opportunities, sports enthusiasts have bemoaned the deplorable state of sporting infrastructure, which threatens the growth of sports tourism. In golf for instance, the number of courses has halved to just over 30, since the 1980s.

Zimbabwe receive Emarati travel bloggers

Prince Ngwenya, [email protected]

THE Secretary for Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr  Takaruza Munyanyiwa, welcomed eight Emirati women travel bloggers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for a familiarisation trip in the country.

The familiarisation trip for bloggers, which is being hosted in the country, began on 12 April and is set to end on 19 April.

In a statement, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority said familiarisation tours are a valuable tool for promoting tourism, as they allow influential travel bloggers to experience the country’s attractions firsthand and then share their experiences with their followers.

“The familiarisation tour will cover some attractions and activities in Harare, Nyanga, Victoria Falls and Hwange,” reads the statement.

Dr  Munyanyiwa said bloggers, through their platforms, are building bridges and serving as pathways for cultural understanding and appreciation, allowing Zimbabwe and the UAE to connect on a deeper level.

“Blogging of Zimbabwe’s attractions activities and tourism services plays a pivotal role in raising awareness and increasing visibility of Zimbabwe’s tourism brand,” reads the statement.

Emirati Women Travel Bloggers to embark on Nine-Day Zimbabwe Familiarisation Tour

Leonard Ncube, [email protected]

A GROUP Emirati Women Travel Bloggers from the United Arab Emirates is expected in Zimbabwe on 12 April on a nine-day familiarisation tour of the country.

They are expected to land in Harare on Friday where they will be hosted for a welcome dinner by Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Barbara Rwodzi and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.

According to their itinerary, the visiting group will on Saturday travel to Nyanga as they start having a feel of Zimbabwe’s excursions and tour activities.

They will do zipline, skywalk, nature walk and other activities in Nyanga on Saturday and Sunday before departing back to Harare.

On Monday they will fly to Victoria Falls enroute to Hwange National Park where they will do game drives with chances of seeing the Big 5 at the giant natural sanctury.

On Tuesday the team will have a morning game drive in Hwange before departing for Victoria Falls where on Wednesday they will have a tour of the Victoria Falls Rainforest and informal traders’ markets.

They will have an opportunity to taste high end dishes at Lookout Cafe and do high wire activities comprising gorge swing, flying fox and footie slide.

On the same day they will also have an option of doing Flight of Angels , elephant interactions, bungee jumping, bridge slide and village tours.

They will also taste local traditional dishes at the Boma and Dinner Drum Show in the evening.

On Thursday the Emirati will visit the Cheater and Elephant Conservation before flying back to Harare in the afternoon.

On Friday they will visit some selected places in Harare including the Dominic Benhura Gallery and Balancing Rocks before an end of trip meeting with the Ministry of Tourism officials.

They will fly out back to UAE on Friday evening.