Houseboat Thesis Chapter 1
CHINHOYI UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
DEPARTMENT OF TRAVEL AND RECREATION
Tourist perceptions on service quality delivery by Tour Operators in Kariba
By Michael Hatineyi Musiyiwa
C097680X
Semester 4.2
Year: 2013
Supervisor: Mr. B. Hurombo
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
Houseboat sailing activities is a popular activity in Kariba(citation), the resort town opened up development for private boat operators to offer the visitors of the magnificent resort an opportunity to sail the calm waves of the lake through early morning and sunset cruises, speed boat fishing trips, and canoeing. The houseboat operator business composition in Kariba is one of the major revenue earners as these are done all year round with the support of the activity coming from the wild safari game drives and village/guided tours acting as secondary business. Zimbabwe underwent economical challenges from the beginning of the millennium to early 2009 and the issuing of travel warnings to Zimbabwe by the international community gave a scare to the international visitors and some stopped visiting the country. Likewise Kariba tour operators suffered heavily as tourism took a slump and the unstable economic environment made it virtually impossible to operate. On the 14th of March 2010, Protea hotels on their website http://www.proteahotels.com/a-new-lady-on-lake-kariba.html published the acquisition of “Southern Belle” one of the biggest boats in Southern Africa from Zimbabwe to Zambia. The travel warnings had a great psychological effect in influencing destination perception with countries like the USA branding Zimbabwe as a country full of crime according to http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1063.html “U.S. citizens and other foreigners are perceived to be wealthy and are frequently targeted by criminals who operate in the vicinity of hotels, restaurants, and shopping areas of major cities and tourist areas such
SCHOOL OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM
DEPARTMENT OF TRAVEL AND RECREATION
Tourist perceptions on service quality delivery by Tour Operators in Kariba
By Michael Hatineyi Musiyiwa
C097680X
Semester 4.2
Year: 2013
Supervisor: Mr. B. Hurombo
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Background of the Study
Houseboat sailing activities is a popular activity in Kariba(citation), the resort town opened up development for private boat operators to offer the visitors of the magnificent resort an opportunity to sail the calm waves of the lake through early morning and sunset cruises, speed boat fishing trips, and canoeing. The houseboat operator business composition in Kariba is one of the major revenue earners as these are done all year round with the support of the activity coming from the wild safari game drives and village/guided tours acting as secondary business. Zimbabwe underwent economical challenges from the beginning of the millennium to early 2009 and the issuing of travel warnings to Zimbabwe by the international community gave a scare to the international visitors and some stopped visiting the country. Likewise Kariba tour operators suffered heavily as tourism took a slump and the unstable economic environment made it virtually impossible to operate. On the 14th of March 2010, Protea hotels on their website http://www.proteahotels.com/a-new-lady-on-lake-kariba.html published the acquisition of “Southern Belle” one of the biggest boats in Southern Africa from Zimbabwe to Zambia. The travel warnings had a great psychological effect in influencing destination perception with countries like the USA branding Zimbabwe as a country full of crime according to http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1063.html “U.S. citizens and other foreigners are perceived to be wealthy and are frequently targeted by criminals who operate in the vicinity of hotels, restaurants, and shopping areas of major cities and tourist areas such