POTRAZ steps up tourism sector data protection drive

THE Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) is set to hold a Data Protection Awareness Workshop for the tourism and hospitality industry, highlighting the growing importance of data governance in the sector.

POTRAZ, in its capacity as the country’s designated Data Protection Authority, will next month hold the workshop to provide businesses with practical guidance on complying with Zimbabwe’s data protection framework.

The workshop will focus on compliance with the Cyber and Data Protection Act (Chapter 12:07) and Statutory Instrument 155 of 2024.

The initiative targets businesses across the tourism value chain, including hotels, lodges, travel agencies, tour operators, event management companies, tourism associations and hospitality service providers that routinely process personal information.

POTRAZ said the workshop was intended to provide businesses with practical insights into data protection compliance and industry best practices.

Participants will also have an opportunity to engage directly with the regulator and receive guidance on achieving and maintaining compliance, the authority said.

The intervention comes as digitalisation becomes increasingly embedded in the tourism industry, with businesses relying on digital platforms to market destinations, process bookings, communicate with visitors and deliver services.

Hotels and other accommodation establishments routinely handle personal information through reservations, guest records, communications and service delivery, while travel agencies, tour operators and event companies process customer information as they coordinate bookings and other tourism-related services.

POTRAZ said strengthening data protection would help tourism businesses enhance the protection of personal information within their operations while strengthening stakeholder trust.