December 29, 2021
2 mins read

Domestic tourism booms in Zimbabwe despite curbs

Domestic tourism is booming in Zimbabwe despite restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with many hotels and lodges recording brisk business during this festive season…reports Asian Lite News

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu told Xinhua news agency that many hotels and lodges in the two major cities of Harare and Bulawayo, including some inland resort places, were fully booked with local tourists during this festive season.

He said this will help the operators to sustain their business, considering that the sector is still reeling under the effects of periodic lockdowns since the coronavirus was first detected in the country in March 2020.

Domestic tourism booms in Zimbabwe despite curbs

“I do not have the figures as yet but what I can confirm is that by and large, tourism facilities in the major cities and other inland resort places have done well on domestic tourism.

“Even when we were red-listed by some countries following the discovery of the Omicron variant, some of our operators were not affected and were fully booked owing to high domestic tourism,” Ndlovu said.

Zimbabwe has maintained the Covid-19 Level 2 national lockdown despite the emergence of the Omicron variant at the beginning of this month and has moderately tightened some of the restrictions in a bid to stem the fourth wave of the pandemic.

Some of the measures that President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced to curb the spread of the virus are the enforcement of wearing of masks by all when in public; scaling down of all government activities to 30 per cent; asking businesses to shut down early for the festive season; and ordering hotels and lodges to provide room service to their clients as opposed to gathering in restaurants and bars.

Also, the government has imposed restrictions on returning residents and visitors to the country, requiring them to undergo mandatory PCR testing and a 10-day quarantine period regardless of test results.

ALSO READ: Zimbabwe calls for repatriation of African artifacts from Western museums

The government has also announced a 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew, ordered shops to close early at 7 p.m., customers are not allowed to consume alcohol at bottle stores while nightclubs and bars are allowed to admit vaccinated clients only, among other standing measures to curb the spread of the virus.

Ndlovu said the pandemic, however, continues to take a toll on the tourism sector, as foreign tourists who are mostly high spenders were not visiting the country.

There was a need for the sector to be innovative and creative to stay afloat in the turbulent times of the pandemic, he said.

Previous Story

Israel facing “unprecedented” Covid-19 wave

Next Story

Why Kashi and Mathura are not Ayodhya

Latest from AFRICA NEWS

Arab League Slams Sudan Strikes

The condemnation followed the Sudanese army’s announcement on Sunday that RSF drones had targeted a military airbase..reports Asian Lite News The Arab League (AL) condemned reported drone attacks by the paramilitary Rapid

Over 45,000 affected by Somalia flash floods 

The Horn of Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, and extreme weather events are becoming increasingly frequent and intense  More than 45,000 people have been affected by

S Africa’s equity pitch

Steenhuisen was delivering the opening address at the three-day meet ahead of the G20 leaders’ summit towards the end of the year. South Africa holds the presidency of the G20 this year

EYE-CATCHING

Aircrafts perform during the South African Air Force (SAAF) Museum Airshow in Pretoria, South Africa. The annual SAAF Museum Airshow took place here on Saturday.

Kanga power!  

A partnership between Kenya, the UK and private sector to deliver growth and jobs by reducing reliance on foreign imports, supporting women and the environment   The UK, Kenya, and the County
Go toTop

Don't Miss

ME & North Africa getting it’s first-ever standalone Disney Store

John Hadden, Alshaya Group CEO, said: “We are incredibly proud

Tunisian President’s Chief of Staff resigns

Nadia Akecha, the Chief of Staff of Tunisian President Kais