Zimbabweans based outside the country have descended on Victoria Falls for the festive season making hotels and lodges fully booked.
The Diasporans are taking over from traditional tourists from Europe, the Americas and the Far East who at this time of the year tend to take a break to relax with their families during the festive season.
The Diasporans are enjoying life in the resort town with South Africans and other tourists from the region. The resort town is a hive of tourist activities with tourists enjoying their visit.
Traffic on the roads in town has also increased and parking space is now a problem since a majority of the domestic tourists bring in their own vehicles.
Adventures like sunset cruises and game drives are the main activities the tourists are venturing in resulting in to guides also enjoying brisk business. Tour operators say it is the norm that their business peaks at this time of the year.
Domestic tourism is in a way on the increase, thanks mostly to the people in the diaspora. When they come for the Christmas holidays, they bring in their families and that is good for the sector.
Packages to attract more domestic tourists to the resort town are being put in place. However, tour operators should put in more affordable products to encourage domestic tourism because it keeps the industry afloat when there is a decrease in arrivals from the usual tourists who normally take a break this time of the year.
