Heavens can help Zim tourism
Date: 20 May 2001
Source: News24 (SA)
Author: Anon
Harare - Zimbabwe is hoping that the first solar eclipse of the new millennium, which will be visible from here next month, will bring a ray of sunshine to its gloomy tourism industry. While no forecasts of tourist numbers have been made for the eagerly awaited event, tourism chiefs are hoping to cash in on the heavenly event to restore what was once a thriving industry. Thanks in part to one of the world's great natural wonders, the Victoria Falls, tourism was one of the fastest-growing industries until last year when political developments in the country saw tourist arrivals plunge to unprecedented lows.
The solar eclipse on June 21 will be visible along a west-to-east line stretching from Angola to Madagascar - including parts of Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe. On that day the moon will completely block out the sun, creating total darkness during the day. World astronomers and skygazers in general are expected to converge on southern Africa to witness the spectacular event. "We will take advantage of that (eclipse). It is a well-timed opportunity," Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, (ZTA) spokesperson Leslie Gwindi told AFP. Despite security fears and fuel supply concerns, the state-appointed ZTA is working flat-out to ensure all goes well and that the industry gets its much-needed kickstart.
Gwindi said Zimbabwe's biggest challenge now is to assure prospective visitors of their safety and the availability of adequate fuel supplies. Zimbabwe has experienced fuel shortages for more than two years, due to a lack of foreign exchange to import petroleum products. Last year tourist arrivals declined by more than 60 percent as the country's image as a holiday destination suffered from a violent election campaign and trouble on white-owned farms. "Visitors... can rest assured that we are doing our best to ensure their security," said Gwindi. "We are working tirelessly to make sure that during that period there will be enough fuel," added tourism minister Francis Nhema.
President Robert Mugabe launched an ambitious tourism recovery plan after the elections, but it is yet to bear fruit. Some 60 tourism firms folded last year and more than 100 others face closure this year according to media reports. The industry employed some 180 000 people two years ago. Now a hospitality team comprising tourism experts, police, the military, immigration officials and fuel importers has been set up to ensure that the solar eclipse is profitable as well as spectacular. "We want to use the eclipse as a springboard from which the industry can return to its normal levels," said ZTA manager Zii Masiye. Prime viewing sights have been selected along the path of the eclipse in northeastern Zimbabwe. Specially designed viewing villages have also been set up in such resorts as Kariba town, Mana Pools and the little known Kotwa rural centre, close to the border with Mozambique.
A total eclipse occurs somewhere in the world about every 18 months, yet on average any single location enjoys a total eclipse once every 400 years. The last eclipse was in August 1999 and covered a swathe across the northwestern Atlantic, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Solar and lunar eclipses were once thought to be a bad omen here and are still considered so by some superstitious people who believe that all eclipses precede droughts.