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Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
THE Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has urged players in the tourism industry not to panic over the prevailing economic situation as efforts are being made to stabilise the environment and thereby protect the sector.

This comes amid reports that some local conference organisers had cancelled meetings in Victoria Falls recently owing to the effects of the parallel market.

Zimbabwe has recently been experiencing a sharp increase in prices of mainly basic commodities which has sparked inflation and panic buying, on the back of spiralling parallel market exchange rates between the US dollar and bond notes or electronic/mobile money.

The tourism industry has not been spared as it has been forced to absorb costs emanating from the situation. The industry hopes for an urgent address before the sector suffers more.

ZTA chief executive, Mr Karikoga Kaseke, said the authority was concerned that the “uncontrolled” parallel market might lead to an increase in tourism fees such as accommodation and activities.

He said a series engagements have been going on with various authorities to normalise the situation.

“To some extent everybody is feeling the heat mainly in terms of foodstuffs, fuel and foreign currency,” said Dr Kaseke in an interview.

“Foodstuffs are the first to be affected especially in the hotel sub sector and we pray the issue is resolved within a week or two because we don’t want a situation where industry goes back to 2008 where hotels were the only source of food and ran out of stock.”

He, however, said the prevailing situation was far better than 2008 although domestic tourism has been affected.

“People can’t travel when there is no fuel and this results in low occupancy. Fuel shortages have caused havoc in the industry in terms of how to price and some conferences have been cancelled because people can’t travel. Activities which are our products are being affected because there is no production without fuel,” said Mr Kaseke.

“The parallel market has imposed a two tier payment system in the industry and foreigners are now paying less than locals.

“We have been talking to some authorities who have assured us that in a week or so things will be normal, hence we want to believe and rely on that information and hope things will normalise as we encourage the authorities to urgently resolve the situation. However, there is no need to panic.”

Consumers have been on a panic buying mode with some businesses now targeting foreign currency paid by foreign tourists.

Hoteliers and tour operators have since barred agents from paying on behalf of clients as they have been cashing in on the situation, receiving foreign currency from tourists but paying to operators in local online transactions or bond notes.

Government has also called upon citizens not to panic and guaranteed availability of essential commodities including fuel. — @ncubeleon