ZIMBABWE Tourism Authority (ZTA) has warned people who operating tourism-related businesses to register their ventures before it embarks on a crackdown.
Owing to the massive informalisation of the economy many Zimbabweans are operating restaurants, shuttle services, outside catering and wedding venues around the country in a bid to make a living, however, most these ventures are not registered as required by the law.
Zimbabwean law requires businesses that are offering tourism related services to register with ZTA and also that they should pay the tourism levy to the parastatal.
In a statement, ZTA said the unregistered operators have up to end of March to regularise their ventures and they will not be penalised as well.
“The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority wishes to remind all operators of unregistered Designated Tourist Facilities to come and register by the 31 March 2019.
“All facilities that register or renew their licenses and certificates before 01 April 2019 will have no penalties charged,” said the statement.
The country’s tourism authority also called on members of the public to shun these unregistered facilities and also to report them.
“Members of the public are urged not to patronize unregistered facilities as this may compromise their safety and security. The public is further urged to report any suspected unregistered operations to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
“Starting in the first of April 2019, the ZTA in conjunction with law enforcement agents will be deployed to bring all unregistered facilities to book,” said ZTA. For further information and assistance, people can get in contact with the Destination Management Division, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, 55 Samora Machel Avenue, Harare or your nearest Zimbabwe Tourism Authority regional offices or email standards@ztazim.co.zw or registration@ztazim.co.zw-
