Banks failure to avail credit card swiping machines in Victoria Falls worrisome

Patrick Chitumba  Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has raised concern over the failure by banks to avail credit card swiping machines around Victoria Falls ahead of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly.
With three days to go before the world descends on Victoria Falls for the 20th session of the general assembly, it is still difficult for tourists with credit cards to get them processed in hotels, lodges and supermarkets. In this light, Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Engineer Walter Mzembi said he was going to meet the Bankers Association of Zimbabwe over the issue.
“Tourists are no longer carrying hard currency. Rather they are carrying plastic money and the banks must come to the party. The

Government and other mobile network operator invested in making internet access available easily in Victoria Falls and therefore the banks should take advantage of this development by availing machines all over the resort town,” said Eng Mzembi.

He said banks should facilitate internet banking in response to the challenges of plastic money.

Eng Mzembi said the whole essence of marketing the destination would be null and void if visitors failed to use plastic money.
“I am meeting with the Bankers Association this week to discuss the issue. BAZ must respond to the availability of internet in the resort town,” he said.

Meanwhile, the UNWTO advance secretariat team has arrived in the country.
The arrival of the team is to ensure that the 20th session of the UNWTO, co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia runs smoothly.

Zimbabwe and Zambia are co-hosting the general assembly from 24 to 29 August and already over 147 countries have confirmed participation and more than 650 rooms have so far been booked.