Zimbabwe: The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has announced to provide the facilities to tourist operators up to April 01, 2024 and has urged them to register in compliance with the provisions of the Tourism Act 1996.
Moreover, the tourist operators with expired licenses and certificates must also register for their facilities by the end of the next month with ZTA.
The ZTA is an organization that was formed by an Act of Parliament: The Tourism Act Chapter 14:20 of 1996. As per the act, it is mandatory to develop, manage, promote and do the marketing of Zimbabwe as a tourist destination in local and international markets.
Also, according to the Tourism Act 1996, all Designated Tourist Facilities (DTFs) should be registered with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).
Reportedly, the DTF operators are asked to ensure that any agents they will hire to utilize for promoting the facilities must be registered.
Earlier, the tourism authority was concerned about the entities that were running unregistered, considering the tourism operations such as hiring for a car, accommodation, restaurants, travel agencies, tour operations, etc.
For Zimbabwe, Tourism is one of the key aspects that supports the economy of the country and is the sector that is expected to contribute more towards economic growth with a vision to achieve the upper-middle-income economy, by the year 2030.
According to an updated notice, the ZTA said that the registration was made by Statutory Instrument 106 of 1996, which provides for the categories of tourist facilities that must be registered.
The tourism authority also stated that to renew the licences and certificates, the operator must produce a CR 14/6, council or municipal licences, lease or permits, bank statement, public liability insurance policy with a minimum of US $50,000 and expired ZTA licences.
The authority said, “Requirements for new registration for all categories are a bank statement or letter from the bank, public liability insurance policy with a minimum cover of US $50,000, brochure or promotional material and a certified copy of balance sheet or statement of capital.”
“Copy of certificate of incorporation, CR14, the value of the investment, copy of IDs of directors, passport size photos of directors and details of provision for disabled must be provided,” says the notice.
As per the sources, all the registered facilities or renewed licences and certificates before April 01, 2024 will not be charged with any penalties.
The authority has also urged the public not to patronize or use the services of unregistered tourist facilities as this may harm their safety and security.