An analysis of tourist trends in northern Gonarezhou National Park, Zimbabwe, 1991-2014

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine trends in tourists’ arrivals in northern Gonarezhou National Park for the period 1991-2014, and (2) compare trends in arrivals among local, regional and international tourists, as well as among overnight and day visitors. Tourist visitation data were collected from the park’s tourist records. For each of the years, we totalled the estimated number of visits into the park for every month, and then summed these totals across the whole year. To determine tourist trends, we used descriptive analyses (frequencies), and line and column graphs. An increase in tourist arrivals was recorded between 1991 and 1998 and between 2008 and 2014, while decline was recorded between 1999 and 2007. We concluded that tourism is volatile and its success depends on the destination’s ability to manage the destination’s image and a number of challenges that can easily alter visitor flows.