TOURIST arrivals this year are seen taking a knock as a result of restricted international travel due to the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) said on Wednesday.
The ZTA last month said Zimbabwe had lost business worth $6 million since the outbreak of the highly contagious virus in March which has resulted in limited international travel.
Some 30 foreign buyers had withdrawn their participation in this year’s Sanganai/Hlanganai World Tourism Expo which starts on Thursday, ZTA chief executive Karikoga Kaseke told a media conference.
He said the outbreak had negatively impacted on the local tourism industry and the number of cancelled visits was projected to grow.
“We have had cancellations (for paid for bookings). People had paid for holidays in Zimbabwe and are demanding their monies back,” said Kaseke.
“We have not done a total impact assessment on this Ebola issue but the amount of business lost is most likely to continue growing and surpass the $6 million as we approach the holiday season.”
No cases of the virus have been recorded in Zimbabwe.Advertisement