trouble in paradise: the new baines restaurant in vic fallsis there too much development going on in victoria falls? a group of environmental campaigners thinks so, and they are calling for a boycott of zimbabwe’s top resort in protest.the victoria falls was declared a world heritage site in 1989. that means unesco requires the site to be kept “intact for future generations,” with parts preserved from development. but, according to the keep vic falls wild campaign, a coalition of local environmentalists and tour operators, that promise is being broken as new hotels and lodges rise across the town to meet rising arrivals.on the other side, the city of victoria falls and investors argue that development is essential. the town has a shortage of 2,200 hotel beds, they say, and needs more conference facilities to keep up with growing demand. none of these projects, they insist, is illegal or within restricted areas.council’s draft plan proposes expanding the city’s area from just 22 square kilometres to more than 244 square kilometres. the activists say this will swallow up parts of victoria falls national park and nearby forest reserves, “all previously protected for conservation.”frustrations are spilling over. “perhaps it’s time we called for an international boycott…of all tourism to the zimbabwean side of the falls, where a wave of tourism development proposals threatens conservation areas,” the group says.here are some of the projects fuelling the row:baines – on the riverbaines restaurant, built near the zambezi, is accused of violating the ‘highly ecologically sensitive zone’, where new infrastructure is banned. baines ceo andrew lane insists it is within the authorised area, and the company is suing campaigner larry norton for us$2 million over his claims of “the creeping commercialisation” of the falls.intercontinental hotel plansthe intercontinental hotel group and local partner house of chinhara plan a 57-room luxury hotel under the six senses brand. activists say the site lies in a ‘no new development zone’. intercontinental says it is within an authorised buffer zone.river views for the hilton?lamcent capital is planning a 120-room hotel, with hilton reported to be in talks to manage it. the site is next to the palm river hotel, a four-star property opened in 2021 by old mutual and spencer’s creek.a render of a proposed new vic falls hotel by lamncent capital___what else is going on in vic falls? the town has seen accelerated development over recent years, and more projects are on the way.the city of victoria falls signed a us$1.6 million deal with integrated construction projects to open up new commercial land near zimre properties’ sawanga mall.council has been negotiating a partnership with cbz and a swiss developer to build a hotel behind the victoria falls hotel.french group accor is bringing its novotel brand to zimbabwe with a 111-room hotel overlooking the masuwe river, set for 2028.investor chris jannou plans a city centre hotel.the bupenyu luxury boutique lodge opens soon on the edge of batoka gorge.newmark hotels & reserves is developing the high-end twalumba lodge.wild horizons has just completed the waterfalls lodge.minor hotels, an international group, will launch the anantara stanley & livingstone victoria falls hotel, a sister property to the royal livingstone across the border.the bupenyu lodge is due to open in march, 2026 trouble in paradise: the new baines restaurant in vic falls is there too much development going on in victoria falls? a group of environmental campaigners thinks so, and they are calling for a boycott of zimbabwe’s top resort in protest. the victoria falls was declared a world heritage site in 1989. that means unesco requires the site to be kept “intact for future generations,” with parts preserved from development. but, according to the keep vic falls wild campaign, a coalition of local environmentalists and tour operators, that promise is being broken as new hotels and lodges rise across the town to meet rising arrivals. on the other side, the city of victoria falls and investors argue that development is essential. the town has a shortage of 2,200 hotel beds, they say, and needs more conference facilities to keep up with growing demand. none of these projects, they insist, is illegal or within restricted areas. council’s draft plan proposes expanding the city’s area from just 22 square kilometres to more than 244 square kilometres. the activists say this will swallow up parts of victoria falls national park and nearby forest reserves, “all previously protected for conservation.” frustrations are spilling over. “perhaps it’s time we called for an international boycott…of all tourism to the zimbabwean side of the falls, where a wave of tourism development proposals threatens conservation areas,” the group says. here are some of the projects fuelling the row: baines – on the riverbaines restaurant, built near the zambezi, is accused of violating the ‘highly ecologically sensitive zone’, where new infrastructure is banned. baines ceo andrew lane insists it is within the authorised area, and the company is suing campaigner larry norton for us$2 million over his claims of “the creeping commercialisation” of the falls. intercontinental hotel plansthe intercontinental hotel group and local partner house of chinhara plan a 57-room luxury hotel under the six senses brand. activists say the site lies in a ‘no new development zone’. intercontinental says it is within an authorised buffer zone. river views for the hilton?lamcent capital is planning a 120-room hotel, with hilton reported to be in talks to manage it. the site is next to the palm river hotel, a four-star property opened in 2021 by old mutual and spencer’s creek. what else is going on in vic falls? the town has seen accelerated development over recent years, and more projects are on the way. source: newzwire
Source: Original Article
