Domestic Tourism Festive Season Campaign launched
Story by Memory Chamisa
THE Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has launched the Domestic Tourism Festive Season Campaign aimed at encouraging locals to travel within the country’s tourism destinations this festive season.
Dubbed #Uripi, the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry together with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority are on a drive to encourage locals to visit the various tourism products dotted around the country.
The launch comes as the country has recorded a significant rise in foreign receipts but lagging on the domestic front.
The minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Hon Barbara Rwodzi emphasised the need for a favourable pricing model that will nudge domestic tourism.
“Today we have launched #Uripi unani as we promote local travel. Many people tend to travel outside the country during the festive season and we want people to be able to visit the various destinations around the country. The issue of affordability is one that we have also been looking at. Most of the places are beyond the reach of many and that needs to be addressed, starting this festive people must be able to book into any place that is being charged reasonable prices, especially for locals. You find that most places charge per head instead of per room as they try to maximise profit which is a stumbling block for many families and individuals who really would love to travel hence some opt to travel outside the country,” she said.
Tourism Business Council Zimbabwe President Mr Wengayi Nhau stressed the need to protect the sector from future shocks.
“Such campaigns are important in ensuring locals benefit from the country’s endowments as many people cannot afford to visit them because of the prices that are being charged. Surely that cannot be justified regardless of even the much-touted “high cost of doing business” argument. I urge the hospitality sector to focus on volumes rather than high margins. I am aware that one of the challenges to the domestic market is the low disposable incomes vis-à-vis the high prices of our tourism products.
The campaign is designed to focus mainly on the domestic market whose contribution to economic growth and development is yet to be fully realized.
