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THERE is need for an appropriate accounting system to collate all the relevant tourism data through creating a Tourism Satellite Account and come up with critical information about tourism’s contribution to the economy, Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Permanent Secretary, Ms Florence Nhekairo has said.
Speaking at the Tourism Satellite Account capacity building workshop at Montclair Hotel and Casino in Juliasdale last week, Ms Nhekairo, who was represented by Director of Policy, Research, Planning and Development in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Mr Douglas Runyowa, said the development of the Tourism Satellite Account was one of the sector’s key deliverables in the country’s economic blueprint Zim-Asset which is aimed at ensuring sustainable economic development.
The workshop was aimed at supporting Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa member states in developing their systems of Tourism Statistics for the improved measurement, analysis, understanding and strategic management of the tourism sector.
RETOSA member states who attended the workshop include Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, Angola, Seychelles and Namibia.
“The development of the Tourism Satellite Account brings to the table the importance of tourism in any particular economy. Tourism is a unique product which has the potential to add value to other economic sectors and some of its elements are embedded in other sectors, thereby making it unique and different from other economic sectors.
“Therefore, the need for an appropriate accounting system which is able to collate all the relevant tourism data to come up with critical information about tourism’s contribution to the economy cannot be overemphasised,” she said.
South Africa, Mauritius and Mozambique already developed Tourism Satellite Accounts.
RETOSA acting executive director, Mr Simba Mandinyenya, said the Government of Zimbabwe was very supportive in their programmes particularly on the development of the TSA.
Zimbabwe is one of the countries that are eager to have completed their TSAs within the next few years.
“It has been difficult to place tourism as an independent sector in the national account so the creation for TSA’s will help governments to accurately measure how tourism is contributing to the country’s economy.”said Mr Mandinyenya.
Online Reporter