Zimbabwe, known for its spectacular Victoria Falls and game parks, suffered a 49% drop in tourism revenue last year, compared with 2004, a state daily reported on Thursday.
Tourist arrivals from overseas declined by 39% in 2005 from the previous year, while those from Africa also went down 11%, The Herald reported, quoting statistics from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).
“The tourism industry has again failed to live up to expectations, registering a 49% decline in earnings in 2005 to $98-million,” The Herald said.
Zimbabwe earned $198-million from tourism in 2004.
“We had a host of problems during the year under review, which include a hyperinflationary environment, weak economy, fuel shortages and bad publicity,” ZTA chairperson Emmanuel Fundira was quoted as saying.
“On the other hand, disposable incomes have been severely eroded and this impacted negatively on domestic tourism.”
Zimbabwe is in the throes of economic crisis characterised by world-record inflation, joblessness hovering over 70% and chronic shortages of foreign currency and fuel.
The tourism industry has shrunk over the past six years as foreign visitors snub the country following the seizure of white farms and subsequent isolation by its former friends in Europe. — AFP