Cultural tourism, a value addition alternative for Zimbabwe
Over the last two decades, tourism has developed into a major economic, cultural and social preoccupation and Zimbabwe has not lagged behind in this scenario. At its peak in 1999, the tourism sector showed an annual growth of 18%. Arrivals had reached 2 million visitors per year contribution to 7...
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Midlands State University
2015
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| author | Siwadi, Patience Chaderopa, C. |
| author_facet | Siwadi, Patience Chaderopa, C. |
| author_sort | Siwadi, Patience |
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| description | Over the last two decades, tourism has developed into a major economic, cultural and social preoccupation
and Zimbabwe has not lagged behind in this scenario. At its peak in 1999, the tourism sector showed an
annual growth of 18%. Arrivals had reached 2 million visitors per year contribution to 7% to GDP and
15% to formal employment. Though tourism was at an all time low from the year 2000 it is viewed as an
industry that can significantly contribute to the wealth of the nation. To date, value addition in the tourism
sector in Zimbabwe has concentrated on exploiting traditional tourist attractions like one of the natural
wonders of the world, Victoria Falls, heritage sites like the Great Zimbabwe ruins and the smaller Khami
ruins, and the Chinhoyi caves. Other natural attractions also come into play namely the largest man made
lake in Zimbabwe, Lake Kariba and the mountainous Eastern Highlands. The rich Zimbabwean culture
and beliefs also blend well with such attractions. For example the living museum found in the Victoria
Falls resort area. However, using such products as the backbone of a country s tourism industry is limiting
as visitors can enjoy a site so many times and there is very little that can be done to change the Victoria Falls for instance. It will always be water cascading over a cliff. Added to that, to maintain such a site or
environment as a prime destination requires huge amount of resources. The increasing demand for holiday
accommodation means an added expense to the tourist and pressure to the resort. This paper seeks to discuss cultural tourism as an alternative tourist attraction to enhance a country s tourism product offering at the same time increasing wealth of the rural population. The visit to sites have become mere one day excursions but cultural tourism can be packaged to entice tourists to stay longer and spend more. Furthermore, cultural products can be changed from year to year with added features, new players and diverse attractions. The paper will explore alternative tourism in other regions and also suggest areas that can be developed in Zimbabwe tourism product offering in trying to package rural Zimbabwe into attractive tourist destinations and enhance the cultural heritage into world acclaimed tourism products. |
| format | Article |
| id | ir-11408-744 |
| institution | My University |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2015 |
| publisher | Midlands State University |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ir-11408-7442022-06-27T13:49:05Z Cultural tourism, a value addition alternative for Zimbabwe Siwadi, Patience Chaderopa, C. Cultural tourism, value addition, attraction economic development, Zimbabwe Over the last two decades, tourism has developed into a major economic, cultural and social preoccupation and Zimbabwe has not lagged behind in this scenario. At its peak in 1999, the tourism sector showed an annual growth of 18%. Arrivals had reached 2 million visitors per year contribution to 7% to GDP and 15% to formal employment. Though tourism was at an all time low from the year 2000 it is viewed as an industry that can significantly contribute to the wealth of the nation. To date, value addition in the tourism sector in Zimbabwe has concentrated on exploiting traditional tourist attractions like one of the natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls, heritage sites like the Great Zimbabwe ruins and the smaller Khami ruins, and the Chinhoyi caves. Other natural attractions also come into play namely the largest man made lake in Zimbabwe, Lake Kariba and the mountainous Eastern Highlands. The rich Zimbabwean culture and beliefs also blend well with such attractions. For example the living museum found in the Victoria Falls resort area. However, using such products as the backbone of a country s tourism industry is limiting as visitors can enjoy a site so many times and there is very little that can be done to change the Victoria Falls for instance. It will always be water cascading over a cliff. Added to that, to maintain such a site or environment as a prime destination requires huge amount of resources. The increasing demand for holiday accommodation means an added expense to the tourist and pressure to the resort. This paper seeks to discuss cultural tourism as an alternative tourist attraction to enhance a country s tourism product offering at the same time increasing wealth of the rural population. The visit to sites have become mere one day excursions but cultural tourism can be packaged to entice tourists to stay longer and spend more. Furthermore, cultural products can be changed from year to year with added features, new players and diverse attractions. The paper will explore alternative tourism in other regions and also suggest areas that can be developed in Zimbabwe tourism product offering in trying to package rural Zimbabwe into attractive tourist destinations and enhance the cultural heritage into world acclaimed tourism products. 2015-12-08T14:39:09Z 2015-12-08T14:39:09Z 2012 Article 1815-9036 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/744 en The Dyke;Vol. 6; No. 3; p.63-76 open Midlands State University |
| spellingShingle | Cultural tourism, value addition, attraction economic development, Zimbabwe Siwadi, Patience Chaderopa, C. Cultural tourism, a value addition alternative for Zimbabwe |
| title | Cultural tourism, a value addition alternative for Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Cultural tourism, a value addition alternative for Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Cultural tourism, a value addition alternative for Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cultural tourism, a value addition alternative for Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Cultural tourism, a value addition alternative for Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | cultural tourism, a value addition alternative for zimbabwe |
| topic | Cultural tourism, value addition, attraction economic development, Zimbabwe |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11408/744 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT siwadipatience culturaltourismavalueadditionalternativeforzimbabwe AT chaderopac culturaltourismavalueadditionalternativeforzimbabwe |