Despite a tough economic year, operators at Zimbabwe's prime tourism destination, Victoria Falls, say this festive season will be more lucrative than last year.
In December last year, hotels and lodges registered 53.6% occupancy, but this year the figure is already 58%. Infrastructure renovations have played a key role in luring more visitors.
"For 10 hotels measured in the resort town, the year-on-year occupancy rate rose from 53.6% to 58.7%," said Ross Kennedy, CEO of leading hospitality group Africa Albida Tourism (AAT).
"The new Victoria Falls Airport, with its geographical hub location plus much-enhanced route access and connectivity, has played a part in the growth of the destination."
AAT operates a number of properties in Victoria Falls including the Safari Lodge, the Safari Club - which has had a $600,000 facelift - Safari Suites, Lokuthula Lodges and the Boma Restaurant.
The company has also upgraded its operations across the border in Botswana in expectation that the heightened interest in Victoria Falls will spill over into Chobe.
Clement Mukwasi, president of the Employers Association for Tourism and Safari Operators, said the majority of hotels and activities in the Zambezi River town are already fully booked for the holiday season.
Homeowners were benefiting from the overflow, offering bed-and-breakfast accommodation to tourists, Mukwasi said.
"With new airlines likely to fly into Victoria Falls next year owing to the fact that our traditional market is back, we are likely to continue on a positive trajectory, especially with new products such as the rainforest night events by Zimparks," he said.
Zimparks recently extended the closing time for the Victoria Falls rainforest from 6pm to 10pm.
"Generally, there is no more accommodation space while activities are also fully booked," Mukwasi said.
"However, those who come to inquire for accommodation are not turned away. We do provisional booking and this is where private houses come in."
Wildlife tour guide Sam Ncube said one of the reasons for the increase in visitors could be the more stable political situation.
"Last year the country was fresh from a coup," he said. "Many embassies gave warnings to would-be travellers. Also, there was a heavy military presence on the roads because they were looking for 'criminal elements' around former president Robert Mugabe."
The government will be hoping that renewed interest in Zimbabwe among tourists from traditional markets such as Australia, Europe and the US will help to ease the foreign currency crisis. Last year, the direct contribution of travel and tourism to GDP was $512m, or 3%...