Register or risk closure: BnBs, lodges warned

President Mnangagwa, flanked by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga (right) and Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya (left) after an interface with Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution at State House in Harare yesterday. - Picture: Believe Nyakudjara

Trust Freddy

Herald Correspondent

THE Government has urged owners of Bed and Breakfast (BnBs) establishments and all unregistered tourism facilities to register with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) or risk being shut down.

This follows a surge in unregistered BnBs, small lodging establishments that offer overnight accommodation, which are competing unfairly with registered facilities and evading regulations and taxes.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi issued the warning yesterday while addressing players in the sector during a stakeholder consultative workshop on the Tourism Amendment Bill, held in Harare.

“We have seen a proliferation of unregistered AirBnBs, with some advertising on online platforms like booking.com

“You can’t simply wake up and convert your flats and houses into an AirBnB like others are doing in the avenues. This new law will empower us to shut down such facilities.”

Minister Rwodzi urged unregistered tourism facilities to utilise the current grace period to register and comply with the relevant regulations.

“We will give people ample time to register and complete all necessary requirements before we start cracking down on those who refuse to comply.”

The proposed legislation seeks to amend the existing law by introducing a new provision that grants the authorities the power to shut down unregistered tourism facilities and ensure that Zimbabweans benefit from local tourism resources.

The current provision, which imposes criminal liability on operators of unregistered facilities, is considered inadequate as a deterrent.

Furthermore, the Bill aims to regulate the operations of online platform-based tourism operators, requiring them to register with the ZTA as a prerequisite for hosting guests.

Speaking at the same occasion, Tourism Business Council president Mr Wengayi Nhau said all BnBs should be formalised, not shut down, as they bridge the accommodation demand gap.

“Regulation is all that is needed,” he said. “The advent of AirBnBs has helped moderate the market, previously, we only had conventional hotels and lodges.

“I can give the example of Bulawayo during the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), where before the rise of AirBnBs, we faced significant challenges with accommodation costs.”

Zimbabwe Youth in Tourism Harare Chapter chairperson Gamuchirai Jere lamented the lengthy registration process, citing it as a potential major contributor to non-compliance.