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Minister Mzembi

Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE’S Tourism and Hospitality Minister Walter Mzembi says holiday incentives for civil servants could help the country achieve its tourism revenue target of $5 billion by 2020.
The ministry has already submitted, to the Civil Service Commission, a document detailing a visitor scheme for civil servants aimed at attracting more holiday makers. Some of the proposed incentives include subsidised rates for accommodation and transport fares.

“We have passed on the idea to the CSC. I believe the concept will propel domestic tourism and help the sector realise $5 billion in revenue by 2020,” said Minister Mzembi.

The Government is the biggest employer with about 230 000 workers on its payroll. Minister Mzembi said such incentives for civil servants will also go a long way in addressing capacity issues.

“For instance, Air Zimbabwe is flying to Victoria Falls or Kariba with many empty seats. Most lodges at the National Parks around the country are operating at below 15 percent. So why can’t we be innovative and have incentives for civil servants to enhance capacity. The ingredients of doing it are there.”

The Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation recognises domestic tourism development as one of the sustainable way of boosting the industry.

In the recently launched National Tourism Policy, the Government will take a proactive role in the development of domestic tourism and facilitate the provision of affordable packages that will encourage locals to visit local tourist attractions.

“Government shall also educate members of the public on the importance of tourism through awareness campaigns and incorporating tourism in national school curricula.”

Tourism contributes 10 percent to the national gross domestic product but this is expected to rise to 15 percent next year while revenues are seen more than doubling from $749 million to $1,8 billion, targets set in the National Tourism Policy show.

Tourist arrivals are also expected to grow to 3,2 million from 2,5 million. The sector is expected to generate an additional 100 000 jobs by 2015 to 400 000, riding on marked improvement in the domestic market and participation by the locals in the sector.

Minister Mzembi said his ministry had completed a document outlining other strategies of achieving $5 billion tourism receipts by 2020.
“The paper will be deliberated at inter-ministerial level to capture other ideas before I take it Cabinet, he said.

Analysts said in light of the prevailing liquidity challenges, the package could be broaden to include all potential domestic tourists, or even other foreign markets particularly African countries.

For instance, the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, in co-ordination with EgyptAir are working on launching an initiative with tour operators to create multi-destination travel packages to African countries – including Egypt – at “reasonable rates”.

Negotiations between the Government and the airline are ongoing to offer packages to Egypt or other Nile Basin countries for “reasonable prices”.