Duty on tourism goods ‘counter-productive’

currently on a rebound, an official has said.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority spokesperson Sugar Chagonda said suspension of duty on capital goods, crucial to spruce up the local tourism product, lapsed early in the year and had not been extended.
Formation of the inclusive Government in 2009 ushered in stability on the political and economic fronts leading to revival of the tourism industry that had been in a free fall for a decade.
Tourist arrivals have, since 2009, recorded a steady growth with the sector attracting 2,2million visitors last year, earning the country US$880 million.
A growth of between 4 and 5 percent in international tourist arrivals is anticipated this year while the industry is expected to grow by 15 percent up from 11 percent recorded in 2010.
“But this growth will be derailed if ongoing refurbishment programmes come to an end as a result of failure to retool.”
“The tourism industry has been described as one of the sectors that have the quickest turnaround ahead of other sectors of the economy but support continues to be minimal,” said Chagonda.
Liquidity crunch, which has been a bane to the country’s economic recovery efforts, has not spared the tourism industry. – New Ziana.