In a firm stance to regulate the tourism sector in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) will begin a blitz on unregistered tourism operators, with shut-downs and arrests effected in the face of non-compliance.
“We have made various announcements in the press and other platforms giving timelines for operators to register their establishments up to March 31. In accordance with that announcement, we are going to enforce Section 36 of the Tourism Act, which states that: ‘Where, in terms of regulations made under Section 57, any designated tourist facility is required to be registered or graded. No person shall conduct or operate that designated tourist facility unless it is so registered or graded, as the case may be’,” said ZTA COO, Givemore Chidzidzi.
The clampdown is part of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Priscah Mupfumira’s vision to transform the poor performance of the tourism sector into a significant economic contributor, by 2030. Tourism industry players have complained that unregistered players were cutting into their foreign currency generation potential, blaming them for a 14.71% dip in foreign currency receipts to US$151.16m (€123.49m) for 2017, from US$177.21m (€144.77m) recorded in 2016.
In January, Mupfumira issued a moratorium warning that unregistered tour operators would face swift action if they did not take advantage of the moratorium. This expired on Saturday.
“We will, therefore, move according to the provisions of this Act to ensure that tour operators regularise their operations,” said Chidzidzi. “Those who have not regularised by March 31, 2018, risk facing closure of their operations.”
The ZTA will carry out the clampdown on unregistered players with the necessary authorities as per directive from government.
