Sponsored Listings:
Zimbabwe’s government is looking to boost tourism by improving air connectivity within the country.
According to Joram Gumbo, Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister, Zimbabwe’s government is working to create an integrated air transport network that will allow for easier travel between tourist destinations and reduce travel costs by building new airports and upgrading existing ones.
“We are trying to improve connectivity so that one can fly from Kariba to Buffalo Range and see Gonarezhou National Park, fly to Mutare and go to Hwange using small planes,” Gumbo said.
“We want a situation where people come to Harare, stop off in Kariba, proceed to Victoria Falls or Hwange. We want planes to criss-cross the country so that we promote tourism,” Gumbo explains. “We want to ensure that we have smaller planes that carry up to 100 passengers to travel to Kariba and fly to Hwange working with Air Zimbabwe.”
Upgrading Kariba
According to David Chaota, CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Kariba airport can be upgraded to meet international standards. This includes upgrading the runway for larger aircraft, and introducing customs and excise services.
“It [Kariba Airport] is currently operating at below 20% of its capacity. There is a need for marketing from all angles to improve traffic,” says Chaota. “If the airport is spruced up then we expect more movement and traffic.”
Land has been made available to the Zimbabwean Government by the Kariba Municipality to build a new airport should traffic to the area increase, as the current airport lies between power lines and a gorge and cannot be expanded. Locations for new airports have also been identified in Beitbridge and Mutare.
Source: tourismupdate.co.za
