Zimbabwe should adopt a “new normal” approach and permit the tourism industry to operate under stringent health regulations.
This is according to the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe (TBCZ), whose president Wengayi Nhau stated businesses are being forced to consider additional job cuts or closure due to the impact of the pandemic.
Although overseas and domestic travel curbs have hit the tourism industry hard during the coronavirus crisis, national travel has also been affected by an intercity travel ban. The closure of land borders has also worsened the situation, says an All Africa report.
However, Nhau added that the government has supported Zimbabwe’s tourism industry with vaccine rollouts and by regarding tourism workers as frontline workers.
The Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe president went on to say that the country should make the most of the successful vaccine rollout and allow those who have been vaccinated to travel as an incentive.
He said: "This now calls for us as industry and human beings to learn to live in this new normal. We are in trouble and we are saying to Government, you gave us vaccines, let's try and benchmark on the international standards where elsewhere like in the U.S., citizens are being incentivised to vaccinate by allowing those who have vaccinated to travel and not get quarantined on return.
"We can also borrow similar practices in Zimbabwe and open intercity travel and conference facilities and put conditions that all staff serving guests must be vaccinated," added Nhau.
Tourism arrivals had improved as from October last year, yet the outbreak of the Delta variant of coronavirus has eradicated the gains.
However, a number of businesses have started to rehire staff as domestic tourism increases and the sector reopens.
The TBCZ president continued: "Instead of closing hotels, conference facilities and restaurants, we can enforce social distancing and allow 50% capacity.
There is no way we can dream of a viable tourism industry without land borders especially Victoria Falls and Kazungula because of their geographical location, they are our golden triangle and unique selling point.
"Let's have a pilot programme of opening (land) borders and limiting activity to bonafide tourists with Covid-19 tourism visas. That can be a springboard for our industry recovery," he added.
Plan your retirement according to the lifestyle you want
Everyone’s idea of retirement is different. Some want a simple relaxing life, others want to enjoy life and travel the world, and yet others want to take part in expensive hobbies and enjoy the luxuries of life like upgrading their homes.
posted on 06.10.2021
Plan your retirement according to the lifestyle you want
Everyone’s idea of retirement is different. Some want a simple relaxing life, others want to enjoy life and travel the world, and yet others want to take part in expensive hobbies and enjoy the luxuries of life like upgrading their homes.
posted on 06.10.2021
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