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Zimbabwe is getting ready to host the Victoria Falls Carnival, which returns this year this month.
The organisers of the event said last year’s edition brought in over four thousand visitors to the destination.
Bongani Ngwenya said his team is excited about the prospects of this year’s edition from a business creation perspective to the tourism sector.
“Last year we had four thousand people that came to witness the 2022 edition of the carnival and this year tickets are selling at a very fast pace and we believe that we will surpass last year’s numbers,” said Ngwenya.
“We have created partnerships with players in the tourism sector in Victoria Falls. We have made arrangements with various players in making sure that packages are created for the expected traffic. We put those packages in place to make sure there is a downstream benefit to as many players. The event presents a perfect opportunity for the growth of MICE tourism, and we want to make sure that as many players as possible benefit,” said Ngwenya.
“We are delighted to note that we’ve had a very good response from the corporate world in terms of support and creation of that downstream business network,” he added.
“We are looking forward to the coming next few weeks as we get into this edition of the carnival,” said Ngwenya.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Head Corporate Affairs, Godfrey Koti said his organisation the carnival creates opportunities for the destination to propel its MICE promotion objectives. “The ZTA embraces the carnival event as it is in line with its MICE promotion agenda,” he said.
“We are working to increase the participation this year from both the local, regional, and international markets,” said Koti.
“We use the carnival to raise awareness on destination Zimbabwe in its totality and the conservation activities that are being done around the country,” Koti added.
“This is good for Victoria Falls because it increases our room nights spent in the destination. So we are hoping to increase the quantum of receipts from that particular area during that time,” the ZTA Head of Corporate Affairs revealed.
“This year, we are excited to hear that there is a very good lineup of entertainment acts and activities. It really gives the industry players increased business and that is what we are looking for as the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority,” Koti added.
“As we continue also to celebrate the awards that we’ve received on the international scene were pure attesting to the fact that Zimbabwe is a must-visit destination. We were named the destination of the year in the Natural Beauty category. The Minister was awarded African Minister of the Year whilst our CE was named professional destination manager of the year,” added Koti.
“These are good things that are happening to the sector. They endorse our work and the destination in such a big way. So we are very excited to be having such an event at such a time, he said”
The word Carnival traditionally comes from the Late Latin expression carne levare, which means “remove meat”; a folk etymology derives it from carne vale, “farewell to meat”. In either case, this signifies the approaching fast.
The Victoria Falls Carnival is promising to surpass the massive four thousand visitors from last year and therefore will not be an ordinary party. The three days are billed to be an action-packed event filled with party trains.