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since current rates are too high for locals, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Engineer Walter Mzembi has said.
Failure to review the pricing system, Eng Mzembi said, the Government would be left with no choice but to regulate the industry.
In an exclusive interview in Victoria Falls on Christmas Day, Eng Mzembi said dual pricing should be introduced so that there were two rates — one catering for locals by making the destination cheaper and the other for international tourists.
Eng Mzembi said while Victoria Falls was bustling with domestic and international tourists during this festive season, domestic tourists were complaining about the exorbitant rates charged by operators from transport, accommodation to activities which locals deem exorbitant.
Rates for both locals and international tourists per person charged by operators include sunset boat cruise $40, walk with the lions $90, elephant ride $90, bungee jumping $120, game drive $110, airport transfer to town $20 one way.
It is only at the Victoria Falls Rainforest where there is a two-tier pricing. The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority has introduced dual pricing where locals pay $7 and international tourists are paying $30 as entry fee.
Said Eng Mzembi:
“The tourism industry should urgently review the pricing system for the growth of domestic tourism. Locals do not have excess income like regional or international tourists and the fact that they were beginning to understand, to appreciate tourism, there is a need to give them favourable rates and not tax them.
“We are working on new regulations on the issue of rates aimed at empowering locals by means of connecting them to our abundant resources, our own heritage. It is unfortunate that we have existing Shylocks in the sector who are holding the permits in trust on behalf of Zimbabweans who want to hold us at ransom.
“Remember locals travel as families, with their parents and friends and paying $90 per head for a family of five for elephant ride is not reasonable, it is not acceptable and therefore the need for rates to be reviewed.”
He added that the Government would be forced to re-look at the licensing of operators as their rates were disempowering the people.
“This will not be price controls but they should be able to justify the horrendous pricing system. So the Victoria Falls business community is advised to quickly convene, urgently justify why they are doing this to fellow Zimbabweans,” said Eng Mzembi.
He said the Government gave tour and adventure operators licences to run game reserves, boat cruises and other activities in the sector for the benefit of Zimbabweans.
Meanwhile, Eng Mzembi said domestic tourists were leading in terms of arrivals in the resort town.
He said these were mostly Zimbabweans in the Diaspora who brought in family members, South Africa-based locals and some working in the country.
“The holiday has been characterised by long queues everywhere you go.
“At the Rainforest there were long queues. Tour and adventure companies were booking forward tourists as they are currently 100 percent booked,” said Eng Mzembi.
Towards the UN World Tourism Organisation general assembly in 2013, Eng Mzembi said the Government was working on reviewing Statutory Instrument (SI) 124 and 125 for recapitalisation and
importation of vehicles for the safari industry so that it caters for hospitality industry.
Previously, there was SI 46 and 60.
“SI 124 concentrates on the importation of capital goods like carpets, equipment while SI 125 looks at vehicles but these are restricted to safari operators. However, this should also benefit the hospitality industry.
“At the same time we are working on accessing soft loans for the sector through the International Development Bank of Africa so that the operators have the resources to import goods and services in preparation of
the general assembly,” he said.
Online Reporter