Staff Reporter

MARONDERA- It is the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry’s strategic goal to promote and develop the tourism and hospitality industry in Zimbabwe in line with National Development Imperatives to make Zimbabwe a prime tourism destination.

Deputy Minister Tongai Mnangagwa said this when he officiated at a public consultation on the principles of the tourism amendment bill held at the Hope/Fay Hotel and Conference Centre in Marondera last week.

He said to achieve this strategic goal, developing tourism and hospitality industry laws that are in absolute and perfect alignment with national goals and aspirations is paramount and critical.
To that end, the Ministry’s goal, in the long run, is to make the tourism and hospitality industry the top contributor to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“Currently, Tourism is the third largest contributor to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Our goal is to promote and develop the tourism industry so that it moves up two places to become a top contributor to our National GDP or at least to double its contribution to the same,” he said.

Deputy Minister Mnangagwa said the tourism amendment bill consultations are being done at a time when the law has been outdated.

He said this initiative is coming at a time when the law has become archaic adding that the current Tourism Act was promulgated in 1996 at a time when the socio-economic and political dispensation of the country varied distinctly from what it is today.

In addition, deputy Minister Mnangagwa said, the new Constitutional dispensation brought about changes which place emphasis on gender balance, transparency and accountability as principles of good governance and the importance of socio-economic rights.

“In accordance to the provisions of the Act, Promotion of Tourism is implemented through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) while the development of the tourism industry is implemented and facilitated through the Zimbabwe Tourism Fund (ZTF). In accordance with the Tourism Act Cap 14:20, tourism Promotion and Development shall target domestic, regional and international markets.

“The principles to amend the Tourism Act we are proposing here, seek to ensure that Zimbabwean people benefit from local tourism resources and it is our hope that the incorporation of these objectives in our law will make the national development objectives through Tourism, a reality. The amendment we are proposing, seeks to ensure that the principles of public administration and leadership set out in the Constitution and the Public Entities and Corporate Governance Act [Chapter 10:] are incorporated in our law,” he said.

He urged tourism players to identify laws that need amendment and improvement to give Zimbabwe a competitive edge in the region.

“Let me emphasise that a Tourism Bill is not a mere legal document; it’s a blueprint for our aspirations as a nation. It outlines the path toward an economically vibrant, culturally rich, and environmentally responsible industry,” said the Deputy Minister adding that the blueprint cannot be designed in a vacuum.

The consultation meeting was attended by players in the tourism industry as well as Government officials from several departments and districts.