Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter
THE Tourism Amendment Bill, which seeks to transform the sector into a US$5 billion industry, awaits President Mnangagwa’s assent after it sailed through Parliament last week.
The Bill, seeks to establish a standalone Tourism fund, initially administered by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority sailed through Senate last week after initially passing through the National Assembly.
In deliberations in the National Assembly, there was heated debate on a Clause that creates a stand-alone Tourism Fund with some arguing that ZTA should continue administering the fund, while others insisted the fund must operate independently to better support tourism marketing and infrastructure development.
The proposed standalone Tourism Fund is intended to improve governance, transparency and accountability, while providing resources to promote local tourism products and support struggling operators.
Currently, tourism and hospitality players contribute 2 percent of their revenue to a fund managed by the ZTA.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbra Rwodzi, who was steering the Bill during Committee Stage — where the whole House debates each clause — said there was need for an independent entity to superintend over the fund, given that both ZTA and Mosi‑oa‑Tunya are beneficiaries.
