malvernmugadzikwa
Online Reporter
The Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ministry has hinted at establishing one-stop shops in the country’s 10 provinces to simplify the operators’ licensing process as it moves to facilitate the growth and sustainability of the tourism sector.
Addressing stakeholders at the Tourism Bill Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on Tuesday, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi said the new bill seeks to streamline the licensing process.
“We are trying to promote one-stop-shops, people are struggling because everything is headquartered in Harare. People travel from Masvingo, Hwange or even Binga for licensing a television because licensing officers are all stationed at either at ZTA or at the Ministry here in Harare,” she said.
“Time and money are being lost as people pursue the process, repeating the same procedures now and again, so we think one-stop-shops are the best way forward. The Ministry is trying to increase the appetite for compliance to requisite licensing.”
A centralised platform ensures that all the relevant information regarding licensing requirements, procedures, and fees is readily accessible to tourism operators, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in the licensing process.
Some of the taxes levied on the hospitality industry operators in Zimbabwe include the tourism business license fee, national parks and wildlife fee, travel agent permit fee, external tour operators’ permit fee, car hire permit fee and houseboat permit fee.
Operators must also remit performance rights fees to the Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (ZIMURA) and television license fees for every hotel room.
Online Reporter