By Derick Tsimba

The Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry has issued out a press statement raising concern over the level of rates being charged by some accommodation providers in Bulawayo ahead of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) to be held in the City of Kings next month.

“Some of the charged rates by accommodation providers in Bulawayo call for Government intervention as we seek to protect the consumers,” said the Ministry.

“The Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry notes with grave concern the level of rates purportedly being charged by some accommodation providers in Bulawayo for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair. The unpopular reaction to some of the charged rates calls for intervention by the authorities as we seek to protect the consumers while at the same time also promoting business.

“In this regard, the Ministry is in engagement with the Operators, Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe and the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe in an attempt to amicably resolve the problem as a matter of urgency,” said the Ministry.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality, Mr Munesu Munodawafa said service providers should not take advantage of customers by hiking prices ahead of the upcoming Trade Fair.

“Whilst it is an understandable and widely accepted notion that supply and demand determines the prices of goods and services, providers of services and goods should not take advantage of the customers. Price hikes should be within reasonable and justifiable levels. The kind of price increases being alleged in Bulawayo and said to be triggered by demand far outstripping supply are not justifiable. We expect the hospitality sector to be responsible and to exercise restraint while conducting their businesses in an ethical manner,” said Munodawafa.

Munodawafa also said Zimbabwe had been accorded with the best status as a Sustainable Destination in Africa and recognized internationally as a must visit destination. He said “we should not push ourselves out of business because of over pricing.”

“It is a known fact that we have been accorded the best status as a Sustainable Destination in Africa and we have been internationally recognized as a must visit destination in 2019. We have also managed to surpass the highest tourism figures of 1999 to an unprecedented 2.5 million visitors in 2018.

 “We have also grown our tourism figures and we cannot dilute the positives garnered in the New Dispensation, the Second Republic. We cannot price ourselves out of business; we must remain competitive within the region and international community in our pricing structure. This kind of pricing effectively works against our Domestic Tourism marketing efforts as ordinary Zimbabweans will not be able to afford their own tourism product,” said Munodawafa.

He added: “Going forward, it is necessary to find a lasting solution and my Ministry together with relevant stakeholders and other partners are seriously promoting investment into the accommodation sector not only in Bulawayo but throughout the country. As a relief, the Ministry through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority in collaboration with the ZITF Company have allowed people with suitable accommodation in their homes to avail this to interested visitors during the ZITF time, and that at reasonable rates. Those interested in providing such a service should contact the ZTA or the ZITF Offices in Bulawayo to register. The premises will be duly inspected for registration purposes,” said the Permanent Secretary.