Online Reporter
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke-Senior Reporter
GOVERNMENT has enacted a new Tourism Act that will tighten regulation of Zimbabwe’s tourism industry, including bringing online accommodation platforms and their hosts under a formal licensing regime.
The Tourism Act, 2026, repeals the existing Tourism Act and provides for the continued operation of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), with the Authority being given wider powers to regulate tourism enterprises, register and grade facilities and enforce compliance.
The new law, however, will only come into operation on a date to be fixed by the President through a Statutory Instrument.
One of the major changes is the regulation of online accommodation platforms, with hosts required to register with ZTA before listing their properties.
“All hosts must register with the Authority, in the prescribed manner, before listing a property on an accommodation booking platform,” the Act states.
It further requires booking platforms to ensure that their hosts comply with the law. Hosts will also be required to maintain transaction records, submit quarterly reports to ZTA and comply with local zoning, health and safety requirements.
Existing online accommodation platforms and hosts will have 90 days from the commencement of the Act to comply with the new requirements.
The legislation also gives ZTA stronger powers to deal with unregistered tourism facilities.
Under the Act, “no person shall conduct or operate that designated tourist facility unless it is registered and graded” where registration and grading are required.
ZTA has also been empowered to “shut down all unregistered facilities offering tourism services”, while operators intending to construct tourist facilities will first have to submit their building plans to the Authority.
The Authority will inspect facilities before registration or grading and may obtain reports from health authorities where necessary.
The new law also provides for the establishment of the Zimbabwe Tourism Fund, which will support tourism development, promotion and infrastructure.
According to the Act, the Fund’s objectives include “the development and promotion of the tourism and hospitality industry”, the collection and disbursement of revenue in line with the national tourism development plan, and the development of tourism infrastructure.
The Fund will receive money from Parliamentary appropriations, tourism levies, approved donations, loans and other financial assistance.
The Act specifies that money in the Fund “shall be public funds” and must be administered in accordance with the Public Finance Management Act.
The new legislation also strengthens the governance structure of ZTA, providing for a board of between six and 12 members, with at least half being women.
The board will include people with expertise in tourism and hospitality, economics and business, marketing, conservation, human resources, law and accountancy.
The chief executive officer will be appointed by the board with the approval of the President and will serve for a maximum five-year term, with provision for one further term.
The Act also formally provides for the Mosi Oa Tunya Development Company (Private) Limited as the Government’s holding company for tourism facilities and related entities.
Sustainability is another key component of the new legislation, with the Act requiring environmental protection, cultural preservation and socio-economic considerations to be incorporated into tourism development.
“All tourism policies, programmes and projects shall incorporate the principles of sustainable development, including environmental protection, cultural preservation, and socio-economic equity,” the Act states.
Major tourism developments will also be required to undergo environmental and social impact assessments.
The legislation further provides for gender equality, disability inclusion and the protection of indigenous rights in tourism development, while requiring greater accessibility and support for women and youth participation in the sector.
ZTA will also have powers to inspect tourism facilities, examine records and investigate compliance, while tourism operators will be required to provide prescribed information and statistics to the authority.
The Act introduces penalties for various offences, including operating without the required registration or licence, obstructing ZTA officers and providing false or misleading information.
It also provides for appeals against registration, grading and licensing decisions, with affected persons able to appeal to the Minister and, subsequently, the Administrative Court.
