(Last Updated on November 3, 2023 by ZIMDAILY EDITOR)
By Emmanuella Juawo
HARARE – Barbra Rwodzi, the Minister of Tourism hospitality and industry Friday launched the Domestic Tourism Festive Season Campaign under the hashtag #Uripi at the Africa Unity Square in Harare as part of efforts to encourage local tourism amidst affordability and accessibility concerns.
“As we all know, Zimbabweans complain about the high expense of domestic tourism in the country. Why should it be more expensive to visit Kariba, more expensive to visit Victoria Falls, more expensive to visit Inyanga, more expensive to even visit Great Zimbabwe, compared to visiting Durban, compared to visiting a destination in Zambia, a destination in Malawi or any other destination in the region,” Rwodzi asked.
She added “It is an issue that we are working very hard together with the Zimbabwe Tourism Association and the product owners of our destinations, the hotels, the lodges, the bed and breakfast.”
Zimbabwe’s pricing regimes are among the most expensive in the region, with tourism being largely viewed as elitist and unfriendly to the local tourist as prices are prohibitive.
“We know very well that the prices are unaffordable. So today we are saying, no, let’s try it this festive season for 2023. The prices are being negotiated and we are hoping for the best that it will be affordable.” Rwodzi added.
She said that even in the restaurants, people complain about the cost of the food.
“We know the food is very expensive, the beds are very expensive, particularly in Victoria Falls, whereby rooms are charged per head and not per room. If it’s a single room, it is charged per head, if it’s a double room, it’s charged the two people that get into the room yet everywhere else, a double room is a double room. So we are in negotiations for that to ensure what exactly is the issue, is it about their operational costs, is it about the taxes or something else. So we are negotiating and talking about it and definitely the prices will be much greater than before.”
She urged the people of Zimbabwe to support local tourism, and enjoy their country.
“Please come to Zimbabwe. Please visit. Zimbabwe is beautiful, it is the best of tourism and hospitality industry. We are here to work hard, play hard to do and to experience our destination, Zimbabwe.” Rwodzi said
