By Derick Tsimba
Government has unveiled a ZWL 500 million Tourism Stimulus Package (TSP) to kick start the country’s tourism industry, a cabinet Minister has said.
On its Twitter handle the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) said Minister of Environment, Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Hon Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu, recently unpacked a tourism stimulus package worth millions of dollars from Government to ensure success of the tourism sector.
“Hon Ndlovu met the tourism industry players and unpacked the ZWL 500 million TSP to kick-start the sector. The Fund underlines Government’s commitment to ensure success of the sector for the benefit of local tourists and tourism operators.
“Government also approved the establishment of a Tourism Revolving Fund (TRF) for the sector injecting a seed capital of ZWL20 million into this Fund. It pledged to continue working with local and international partners to attract more capital and investment into this fund,” said ZTA.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority also said Government was encouraging tourism operators to incorporate reasonable charges for their tourism services.
“On the same note, Government has challenged tourism service providers/operators to thoroughly interrogate their cost structures, to reduce costs and give discounts so that they can experience their beautiful country at affordable rates.
The Harare Post learnt that Government approved the deferment of liquidation of foreign currency advance payments made by international clients who cannot travel to Zimbabwe due to COVID-19.
Government is supporting ZTA for the organisation to be fully capacitated to discharge its mandate and drive the National Tourism Recovery and Growth initiative.
Currently ZTA is funded largely from the 2% Levy charged on tourists travelling into the country.
Government has since undertaken to settle all its long overdue bills with the Tourism Sector players for services already rendered. This move is expected to unlock working resources for the Tourism Sector.
