PLAYERS in the tourism sector should take advantage of the extension of duty free importation of capital goods to stimulate growth in the industry, an official said this week.
Government last year enacted a statute to allow players in the tourism sector to import capital goods to be used in hotels, restaurants and boats free of duty.
The previous year Government had suspended duty on imported motor vehicles for safari operators. Zimbabwe Council of Tourism (ZCT) vice president Mr Tichaona Hwengwere told New Ziana extension of duty exemption would further boost the tourism industry.
“We have received an extension to bring goods duty free for the next 12 months and we expect players in the tourism sector to take advantage of the grant.
“At the same time the industry is expecting availability of a revolving fund at very low interest to assist hospitality players, especially small to medium entrepreneurs,” he said.
Mr Hwengwere said business for the hospitality industry was generally fair during 2013 with a marginal increase from the previous year.
“The country’s hosting of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) general assembly in August significantly helped mark Victoria Falls as a destination hence an increase in arrivals.
“On the backdrop of the UNWTO indaba there are also big events lined up which include the Roots for Africa and also the SADC summit which Zimbabwe will host in 2014 , we are quite hopeful these events will add to arrivals next year,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Hwengwere said overall uptake of rooms during the festive season remained the same as last year with hotels averaging around 50 percent from December 20 to the 23rd and between 80 to 85 percent from the December 24 to 26.
“Victoria Falls received the highest number of visitors compared to other towns and locals contributed 85 percent of tourists during the festive season,” he said. — New Ziana.