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Africa Moyo Deputy News Editor
THE tourism industry has thrown its weight behind the country’s currency reforms, adding the development has reduced the cost of the destination which will result in an influx of tourists going forward.
Further, the sector says international tourists should not worry about the currency reforms, which outlawed pricing in foreign currency, as they can still use their credit cards to transact.
This comes as the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) also reassured international tourists that the measures announced on Monday through Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019, which outlawed multiple currencies and introduced a local currency — the Zimbabwe dollar — have no impact on the sector.
Last night, Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe (TBCZ) vice president Mr George Manyumwa told The Herald that “nothing has changed” in the sector regards payments by tourists.
“Our tourists are coming and are still using their credit cards. The cards are still working. So Statutory Instrument 142 of 2019 is not affecting anyone outside Zimbabwe,” said Mr Manyumwa.
“When tourists come they face no problem. We are in support of President Mnangagwa’s policies and vision. What the Government has done is actually working to our advantage in terms of pricing.
“You might have heard in the past that our destination was expensive and those using the rand and the pula were fairly cheaper than us, and when tourists came to Zimbabwe, we were expensive due to the US dollar pricing that we were doing. But right now, since we are pricing in our own currency — the Zimbabwe dollar — our price will stabilise and almost match the SADC prices so this will attract a lot of tourists into Zimbabwe.”
Founded in 1988, the TBCZ lobbies for the tourism industry, speaks and acts as the sole national voice on issues affecting the sector.
The ZTA said SI 142 of 2019 will not negatively affect visitors as all convertible foreign currencies remain acceptable in Zimbabwe.
“Credit cards are readily acceptable everywhere in Zimbabwe where the relevant arrangements have been made with the international credit card companies such as VISA, MasterCard and others, issued by different banks in the countries of origin of the travellers.
“Visitors are required to make the necessary arrangements with their banks before embarking on travel and when in the destination they need to look out for the logos of their respective credit cards. Please note that terms and conditions of the respective credit cards will apply and transactions are subject to the limits given by the banks. “Service providers do have international credit card enabled Point-of-Sale (POS) Machines,” said the ZTA said.
Visitors can also withdraw local money from international credit card enabled ATMs at different banks.
Such ATMs would be clearly marked ‘international’ and will have the logos of the accepted credit card companies.
The ZTA added that foreign cash may also be exchanged at the bank, bureaux de change or any other authorised foreign currency dealers at the prevailing bank rates, which will enable visitors to use the local currency to transact.
Online payments and telegraphic transfers remain acceptable forms of payment in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter