Tourism / Zimbabwe
Easy visas for Chinese tourists
Tourism industry aims for greater numbers in regional packages
Changes to the visa arrangement between Zimbabwe and China are set to further increase the number of tourists visiting Zimbabwe. In the first quarter of this year, the number of trips made by Chinese holidaymakers to the African country grew by 62 percent.
A bilateral agreement between the two countries, signed earlier this year, allowed diplomatic and service sector passport holders to enter the country without a visa, if their stay was less than 60 days. Discussions are now being held to see how these changes can be extended to ordinary Chinese passport holders.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to China who welcomed the changes said, “We have decided to approach this from a regional perspective. We believe that it makes sense for Chinese tourists to go to Africa in packaged tourists trips.” Due to the large distance between the two continents, Chinese visitors tend to visit at least one other country, a key factor in shaping future visa changes.
Victoria Falls, the country’s most popular tourist attraction, saw a corresponding 15 percent increase in visitors last year. Bordering Zambia, and close to Namibia and Botswana, this attraction is typical of one that can benefit from easier cross-border trips. Zimbabwe’s tourism industry currently contributes 5.6 percent to the country’s gross domestic product, which is set to rise as Chinese visitors find their passage to Zimbabwe more convenient.
