THE Government has directed tourism and hospitality
industry operators to reduce accommodation and fees for various activities that
were increased without justification or risk losing business to neighbouring
countries.
Vice President Kembo Mohadi who beat up his ex wife in Beitbridge last week had an interface with tourism
players after leading the National Clean-Up Day in Victoria Falls yesterday
where he implored them to review their rates.
He made reference to recent increase of rates by hotels
ahead of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) due later this month
where Bulawayo Holiday Inn hiked its rates by five percent citing prevailing
economic challenges.
Early this week, the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and
Hospitality Industry also reversed an increase in entrance and parks fees
effected by the Zimbabwe National Parks and Wildlife Management Authority
following an outcry from members of the public.
VP Mohadi said the local tourism industry is performing
positively as evidenced by accolades given to the country as the destination of
choice for 2019 but risks pricing itself out of the market by making its
products expensive.
“The awards given to Zimbabwe through international ratings
are clear indicators of the good work by the Zimbabwe tourism industry and they
should continue to be resilient and working tirelessly to improve the
visibility of brand Zimbabwe on the global arena.
“However, all these good intentions and efforts you have
collectively achieved may come to naught if the issue of pricing is not
corrected. As Government we view the recent price hikes for the 2019 ZITF as
irresponsible and unjustified especially in Bulawayo. I therefore would want to
urge you our captains of tourism and hospitality industry to review your
costing structure so that you are not writing-off all these accolades and
pricing yourselves out of the regional competition and in the process affecting
development of domestic tourism,” said VP Mohadi.
He said Government is not ignorant of the challenges faced
by each economic sector in the country as it is committed to taking the country
towards the middle income economy by 2030.
He implored operators to partner Government in
repositioning the economy.
“We’re in this together and we would want to have more
accolades from international organisations that have something to do with
tourism and attract more visitors. I would like to call upon you to be price
sensitive and responsible when doing your pricing because we would not want our
destination to continue being viewed as expensive hence we must work together
to build a brand that we will all be proud of,” said VP Mohadi.
He commended the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and
Hospitality Industry for reversing entrance fees into parks and Rainforest
saying this was a demonstration of Government’s commitment to the Zimbabwe is
open for business mantra.
Environment Minister Prisca Mupfumira and Zimbabwe Tourism
Authority acting chief executive Mrs Rita Likukuma reiterated the same
sentiments in their speeches.
Mrs Likukuma said exorbitant pricing in the tourism sector
is a serious issue that needs urgent attention, especially at a time when some
tourists now preferred visiting neighbouring countries where it is cheaper.
Even for conferences, some delegates prefer to stay in Livingstone in Zambia
and travel by road to attend the conference.
There are reports that some exhibitors for the upcoming
ZTIF have opted to stay in Francistown, Botswana and drive close to 200 km to
Bulawayo to avoid high accommodation rates.
Meanwhile, VP Mohadi said the country has managed to dispel
negative publicity bent on tarnishing its image saying the influx of tourists
was a sign that the country is on a positive trajectory. Chronicle
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