Page 81 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 22

Tourism

to a standstill. Stating the obvious, thing of the past looking at Kariba
the destination would have run and that is what the theory states
its course in terms of attracting pertaining the decline stage. Most
tourists. Moving on with our chosen of Kariba’s lodges are lying idle. In
destination, Kariba is now suffer- fact, some travel agents have since
ing from low levels of water as the been booted out of business and
area experiences high temperatures. there is lack of wildlife in Kariba
Memory Phiri is a Travel and recreation con- Henceforth, the water levels are save for crocodile farming. Mass
sultant who has vast experience in the tourism said to be decreasing affecting a lot tourism is the root of the decline
industry. She also is a free-lance writer in addi- of water based activities like cruis- stage as the area will need to prac-
tice sustainable tourism in terms of
es, white water rafting and fishing.
tion to being a sustainable activist. You can get Kariba hosts a lot of boats that can visitor management. Dear readers,
in touch with her on be rated as five star if they had been the tourism product life cycle has its
phirimemory491@gmail.com. hotels. Looking at the fact that water drawbacks thus gearing us for the
safaris was its lifeline, it is reported inevitable but the decline stage gives
that Kariba is experiencing a differ- room for improvements as it is a
ent kind of lockdown as adventure sort of a SWOT analysis. Cutting to
After exploring an attraction and tourists are looking at other enticing the chase, the SWOT highlights the
finding it worthy to tourism op- destinations for example the Mtarazi strengths and weaknesses making
erations, the cycle goes on to the falls which is encased in the Eastern planning easier. The whole point of
involvement and development stage. highlands tourism. this assessment of Kariba is to civic
Apparently, as tourism operators educate tourism players on how to
there is need to involve the gov- Rejuvenation avoid unnecessary pitfalls in the
ernment, the locals and the private Kariba can be rejuvenated as a desti- cycle. That said, don’t give up on
sector. The government has to give nation by a lot of itinerary shuffling our most treasured destinations in
permits so as to operate legally thus and redesigning of the tour package the world no matter what.
Kariba is the home of a plethora of that is introducing camping sites,
lodges that is the Tamarind lodge horse riding and weekend bonfires. Kariba
where we stayed on our Travel Ladies and gentlemen allow me to As one of my favorite destinations
and Recreation class trip. More so, say that diversification is the best in Zimbabwe, l felt that l should pen
Kariba is well known for the Tiger route. Rejuvenation is the process down something about Kariba upon
fish tournament which never fails of producing beneficial changes and hearing the incessant issue of de-
to get investors onboard as they it is a must when it comes to the creasing water levels due to climate
bring along foreign currency. To be tourism product. In addition, the change. Particularly there is need to
prosaic, this event put Zimbabwe promotion of township tourism is revive the Kariba tourism operations
on the map as the tournament led vital as it delves deep into the histo- which, if not handled well, will go
to participating tourist getting prizes ry and culture of the locals. Indeed, down the drain. Going through all
which they treasure up to now as increasing travel agents in every city these stages l discovered that Kariba
souvenirs. Not only has it financially will serve its purpose as tourism will is stuck or rather caught between
benefited Zimbabwe as a whole but be expedited in leaps and bounds the two that is the stagnation stage
the locals as well since they are into for these business operations are which in a way determines wheth-
tour guiding which is a vital com- mainly centralized in Harare and er to simply rejuvenate our ways/
ponent when talking about tourism. Bulawayo. When we come to re- methods or play the blame game
Also, the locals are into the making juvenation, tour operators should and fall into the clutches of the
of artifacts which is a guilty pleasure use every weapon in their arsenal decline stage. Half of my Tourism
of many if not most of the tourists. to make the destination look brand and Hospitality classmates did their
new. Undoubtedly, service marketing attachment in Kariba and most of
Consolidation and stagnation as part of the promotional mix will them are now working there as of
After all is said and done through revive and enrich the tourism prod- now showing its strength in terms
the previous stages, the consol- uct positively. of employment. Quite frankly, my
idation phase merges with the clarion call is as Zimbabweans, we
stagnation one causing the tourism Decline have the power to resurrect Kariba
product life cycle to finally come The Tiger Tournament is now a and take it to greater heights.

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