adminSpeaking to Business Chronicle on Monday, a Zimbabwean businessman based in South Africa, Mr Casper Shumba, said the prices for hotel accommodation were beyond the reach of many foreign visitors that it could have a negative impact on the growth of the sector.
“The prices that we use here are not only exorbitant but discouraging.
It is very expensive to book a hotel room in Zimbabwe compared to other countries in the region. The pricing policy for the whole tourism hospitality and tourism industry needs to be revisited,” said Mr Shumba.
He said hotels in the region had user friendly rates that lure visitors in place of discouraging them.
“The reason why most foreign visitors prefer camping instead of sleeping in hotels has got something to do with the prices. The rates are very discouraging and the same scenario applies to beverages where some hotels charge $2 per pint. For a two-star hotel in South Africa a room costs not more than R400 but in Zimbabwe you would find most hotels charging an equivalent of between R800 and R1 000,” he said.
A local player in the industry Mr Sydney Chikaka said Zimbabwe tourism destinations remained among the most expensive in terms of accommodation, meals and activities.
“We are still operating as if we are in the hyper-inflationary environment where prices fluctuated every moment. While it is true that we are emerging from a ten-year hyperinflation period, we should have business discipline by pegging our tourism products and services at nominal prices, a situation that will definitely promote growth,” he said.
Mr Chikaka, who is managing director of upmarket Amazing Village Lodge in Masvingo, said the industry would remain expensive until the country stopped to import its products.
“About 80 percent of what we use, we import from South Africa and other countries within and outside the region. As long as we are importing, skimming pricing policy will continue to be the order of the day because there is need to recover costs,” said Mr Chikaka.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter