THE Victoria Falls Safari Collection (VFSC) says it is expanding its meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) facilities to cater for growing demand from the business community.
The resort — which regularly hosts a number of high-level events and globally acclaimed individuals — is undertaking an expansion drive that has seen the construction of a 180-seater Queen Nandi conference room, two breakaway rooms, an amphitheatre, and an additional conference room expected to be operational by June.
VFSC Head of Marketing and Sales, Anald Musonza, said investments in MICE facilities are a result of the growing need for conferencing space.
“There’s quite a lot of demand for conferences, meetings, incentives and events into the destination,” Musonza said.
“You are all aware Zimbabwe was voted the best destination to travel to by Forbes 2025, and recently at ITB as well, we were… voted the best by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association, and our minister voted the best Tourism minister.
“That… is good positive messaging coming from what’s happening in our destination. And we’ve seen that we’ve been attracting quite a lot of significant MICE business at a global level,” he added.
MICE has been driving up business for various players in the tourism sector, with the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe citing Victoria Falls and Harare as the major beneficiaries of this uptick.
“We have strategically started investing heavily in that area (MICE) because it helps us in our business in terms of picking up business when there is normally no good business.
“January to June… were actually the best months in the 30-year history of our business because of MICE business,” Musonza said.
Corporate clients remain the primary drivers of the MICE business, as the tourism sector is projected to grow by 3,1 percent in 2026.
Growth is already evident, driven by stronger international and domestic travel, alongside continued government investment in the sector.
Musonza said the introduction of more flights to Victoria Falls by airlines such as Fastjet was significantly contributing to the growth of the tourism sector.
“As a destination, I call this the golden triangle because we have three international airports that are less than an hour to our property.
“Kasane International Airport, which is 70 kilometres, which is the furthest, but from landing… within the hour you will be here.
“Victoria Falls International Airport, 20 kilometres, within 30 minutes after landing, you are on our property.
“Livingstone International Airport, 30 kilometres, again within an hour of landing, you are here,” Musonza said.
“So, you can see that there is a very good connection and connectivity into the destination, and you’re beginning to see Vic Falls becoming a proper international hub.
“And you are all aware that our government, through Air Zimbabwe, actually through Munhumutapa, has told us already… we will get this launch of the London Harare flight in June.
‘That to us is one of the most popular routes for us in terms of direct access to Europe,” he added.