Travel News

Zimbabwe a safe destination, tour operator claims

With economic problems growing worse by the day and news of rigged elections and strong-arm tactics by local militia coming out of Zimbabwe, the country is seen by holiday companies and governments as one of the world's least suitable destinations for a sightseeing tour.

Eyebrows were therefore raised recently when a Russian tour operator claimed that Zimbabwe is a safe and enjoyable holiday location.

A visiting group of tour companies and agents from Russia said that the southern African country boasts fascinating attractions and could legitimately attract healthy visitor numbers.

The delegation embarked on a tour of Harare, Zimbabwe's capital, Chivhu and Masvingo, taking in sights such as the Great Zimbabwe national monument, the Herald reports.

Mikhail Muraview, leader of the team that visited the country, said: "We cannot believe this is the Zimbabwe we read in the newspapers and see on international television. It is peaceful, very attractive."

Mr Muraview described the Great Zimbabwe monument, which encompasses ruins of an ancient southern African city, as "beautiful" and said it would be easy to market the attraction to tourists.

Despite these claims - which could be questioned on the basis that they were quoted in the Herald, a government-owned newspaper - Zimbabwe remains a country that is considered unsafe for foreign visitors.

A number of major airlines that once served Zimbabwe now refuse to fly there, including Qantas, Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines and British Airways.

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