The Zimbabwean government has been told that it is too late to include travel agency business among the sectors that are reserved exclusively for locals, as part of the second republic’s empowerment drive.
A few weeks ago the second republic gazetted a wide list of economic sectors that have been reserved for locals.
However, Nyanga South legislator Supa Mandiwanzira is of the view that including travel agency business on the list is too late as most people nolonger use travel agencies, but online platforms to book their flights and travels.
‘’I also have reservations about the Bill singling out the travel agency business as one of the areas reserved for locals. I think we are closing the gates when the horses have already bolted. I do not buy tickets from a travel agent today. I buy online. Now, who is running the online travel agencies? No locals are running these.
‘Then we are now saying no, we cannot allow others to run it. I do not think it is still relevant in the current context where people are buying tickets on trip.com, on kayak and others.
‘’So, I am not sure whether we are promoting tourism because tourism is now one of our largest foreign currency earners and we are saying you cannot have foreign owned travel agencies into this country,’’ he said.
Zimbabwe is working flat-out to improve the tourism sector so that it can contribute significantly to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Tourism is one of the key economic pillars for economic revival for the second republic together with agriculture and mining.
While, agriculture depends on good rains, and mining on good minerals prices, tourism on the hand is viewed as a low handing fruit, that needs litlle support.
Zimbabwe’s prospects are being encouraged by the recent ranking from the Forbes Magazine which designated it as best destination to travel.-
