https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/232 2026-04-13T13:26:11Z 2026-04-13T13:26:11Z Zhou, Zibanai Chibaya, Tendai https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6878 2025-10-28T10:58:54Z 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Analysis of the resilience, impact and adaptation strategies of Kariba Invitational Tiger Fish Tournament in a distressed destination context Authors: Zhou, Zibanai; Chibaya, Tendai Abstract: Sporting event tourism has been embraced by tourist destinations to stimulate socioeconomic development at local level. Despite growing concerns about resilience of sporting event tourism as a strategy for socioeconomic development for sporting activities dependent on resources facing multiple stressors, there remains limited studies focusing on the resilience of localised sporting event tourism in small towns in Zimbabwe. This study examines the resilience, impacts and adaptation strategies of Kariba Invitational Tiger Fish Tournament (KITFT) in a distressed environment, in a developing country context. A qualitative approach was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 key informants purposively selected from event tourism stakeholders. Thematically analysed findings confirmed the resilience of the tournament against the disrupted angler market base, bad publicity, COVID-19 pandemic and a generally unstable political and economic environment. Furthermore, the study revealed that the negative impacts of climate change on Lake Kariba’s water level, and depleted fish stock are significant threats to the resilience of the tournament. Overall, the KITFT provides employment to residents and accommodation, food and beverage service providers benefit through increased capacity utilisation. However, artificial inflation, surge in crime and pollution are issues of community-wide concern emanating from the event. The study gives sporting events tourism planners, and resource conservation entities insights to adopt resilient enhancement strategies and implement early resilient mechanisms to safeguard the event and livelihoods from multiple stressors. The study’s originality lies in its application of the dynamic resilience lens to a recreational sporting event tourism in a distressed tourist resort destination.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z Zhou, Zibanai Chibaya, Tendai Zibanai Zhou Tendayi Makwara https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6413 2024-12-11T12:44:49Z 2024-08-12T00:00:00Z

Title: Challenges facing community-based tourism resuscitation at Dzimbabwe cultural tourism centre, Zimbabwe: grass-root perspectives Authors: Zibanai Zhou; Tendayi Makwara Abstract: Community based tourism has huge potential to transform communities in spaces with limited socioeconomic opportunities mainly in developing countries. With proper management steeped in inclusive approaches, community based tourism can be a strategy to diversify communities’ sources of livelihoods and sustenance. However, this form of tourism continues to face multiple challenges. Grounded in a grass root perspective, the study examines the challenges of resuscitating community based tourism at Dzimbabwe cultural tourism centre in Zimbabwe. The study is based on 30 interview surveys conducted with Dzimbabwe cultural tourism centre stakeholders selected through purposive sampling procedures, and augmented with on-site observations. Thematically analysed findings revealed that the resuscitation of Dzimbabwe cultural tourism is harm strung by many challenges most notably internecine conflict over use of resources, unviable and shrinking market, and weak accountability and governance systems. The study recommended redesigning of the conflict resolution mechanism, leveraging on the domestic tourism market, and reconstituting the composition of the cultural centre’s management committee members, coupled with continuous training to resolve the challenges.

2024-08-12T00:00:00Z Zibanai Zhou Tendayi Makwara Zibanai Zhou https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6387 2024-12-11T11:23:01Z 2024-08-27T00:00:00Z

Title: Perceptions of tourism business managers towards the impacts of climate change in selected tourist sites in Zimbabwe Authors: Zibanai Zhou Abstract: Climate change remains a significant challenge, which threatens the tourism sector in Zimbabwe. This study employs the destination sustainability theory to examine the perceptions of tourism business managers on the impacts of climate change on tourism activities in selected tourist centres in Zimbabwe. A qualitative research approach was adopted in which in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 managerial employees selected through purposive and snow ball sampling strategies. Participants were drawn from multiple study sites, namely Nyanga and Chimanimani; Hwange, Victoria Falls, and Binga; Kariba, Lake Chivero, Mana pools; and Gonarezhou. Findings showed that the perception of tourism facilities managers towards climate change were varied, with managers mostly concerned about climate change induced risk of flooding, shortened tourists vacation time, delayed opening of facilities, damage to supportive tourism infrastructure, loss of biodiversity and reduced capacity utilisation. Additionally, findings reveal that tourism is highly sensitive and vulnerable to the impacts of climate change in the selected study sites due to mediating variables encompassing over-dependence on tourism resources sensitive to climate change, an undiversified tourism market base, and reliance on outdoor tourist activities, coupled with other site specific variables. Overall, tourist sites lack adaptive capacity to recover from the impacts of climate change, hence the adoption of a wide range of smart climate change proofing strategies, notably sinking of boreholes to alleviate water shortages, translocation of wildlife, clearing blocked roads, rehabilitating damaged bridges, investing in energy saving appliances, and green energy. The findings of the study underscore the need for tourism facilities managers to adopt a climate change centric approach when developing climate change proofing strategies to enhance the sustainability and resilience of the sector.

2024-08-27T00:00:00Z Zibanai Zhou Felicity N. Ncube Precious Mazhande Ngoni C. Shereni https://cris.library.msu.ac.zw//handle/11408/6223 2024-06-12T08:26:52Z 2024-05-31T00:00:00Z

Title: Prospects of virtual exhibitions in the Global South: An exhibitors’ perception Authors: Felicity N. Ncube; Precious Mazhande; Ngoni C. Shereni Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic saw an increase in digitalization in various industries across the globe including the events sector, resulting in a shift in attention toward virtual exhibitions. The purpose of this paper, therefore, is to assess the prospects and potential of virtual exhibitions from the exhibitors’ perspective. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 151 exhibitors attending the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo held in Zimbabwe. Data was analyzed using frequency distribution, One-Way ANOVA and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The major findings show that there is more preference for physical exhibitions, although there is recognition that virtual events can add value to the exhibition industry. However, considering that the respondents regard physical exhibitions as important and at the same time highlight the potential of virtual exhibitions, hybrid exhibitions become a viable option in the face of threats from future disruptions emanating from pandemics and natural disasters.

2024-05-31T00:00:00Z Felicity N. Ncube Precious Mazhande Ngoni C. Shereni