Unlicensed operators compromise quality of tourism services

THE proliferation of unlicensed operators is negatively impacting the quality of tourism services in the Midlands province.

This came out during consultations for the Tourism Amendment Bill in Gweru on Tuesday.

Unlicensed operators were accused of offering unqualified and untrained service providers, sub-standard facilities and services as well as unfair competition for licensed operators.

Cabinet recently considered and approved the Tourism Amendment Bill which seeks to ensure Zimbabweans benefit from local tourism resources in fulfilment of Section 13 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe which provides for national development, inclusive of the marginalised areas of the country.

The Bill incorporates the principles of public administration and leadership set out in the Constitution and the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act and is expected to comprehensively address the ease of doing business in the tourism sector in line with Vision 2030.

Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe Midlands Chapter representative, Mrs Sibusiso Musengi said the proliferation of unlicensed operators undermines the delivery of quality tourism products.

“As hoteliers, we are deeply concerned by unlicensed players who have flooded the market. If you look at this conference centre, you will realise that it is actually full, but most of the people in there slept at unlicensed places,” she said.

Mrs Musengi said there is a need to maintain industry standards and protect consumer interests.

“We want players to be licensed so that we keep our standards high. It’s difficult to monitor standard compliance of an unlicensed player. This Bill must also address the aspect of the sprouting of Air-B and Bs so that they contribute to the sector through payment of levies,” she said.

Another operator called for strict regulations and enforcement to ensure quality standards and promote a positive experience for tourists.

Safari operator, Mr Osanu Manjengwa said the proposed tourism levy is steep.

“As a tourism operator, I’m mostly worried about the tourism levy. I feel the 2,5 percent levy in the Amendment Bill is a bit too steep and as such I propose that it be pegged at two percent. That way we will be able to break even and grow our product as we will become competitive on the market,” he said.

Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Barbara Rwodzi said much of the concerns raised by tourism players have been addressed by the Bill.

She said legislators are fine-tuning some grey areas through the consultative process.

“We are very happy with how we have managed to come up with this Amendment Bill which is certainly a game changer in the tourism industry. One of the grey areas that the Bill is certainly going to address is the issue of tourism levy. The current Bill entails that only ZTA (Zimbabwe Tourism Authority) has the power to utilise the levy. We feel this is not fair to other players as the levy by nature is supposed to improve the sector holistically,” she said.

Minister Rwodzi said sharing resources and knowledge according to needs can foster collaboration and drive growth in the tourism sector.

She said it is essential to prioritise accountability and transparency to ensure that the industry develops sustainably and equitably.

By sharing best practices, expertise, and resources, players in the tourism industry, Minister Rwodzi said, can enhance the overall quality of services and increase visitor satisfaction among other benefits.

“In the spirit of accountability, we want this to be shared among players according to needs so that the sectors can grow. We want a boom in this sector. Another area is how we can tap into the new trend of Air B and Bs.

“The Bill addresses how we can also benefit in terms of revenue accrued from such. The Bill is certainly going to propel the industry to new heights once it becomes law,” she said.

The Tourism Amendment Bill is coming at a time when the Second Republic has made significant strides in implementing the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy which is targeting a US$5 billion tourism economy by 2025.