Zimbabwe has moved decisively to clean up its tourism sector, with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority shutting down more than 30 unregistered facilities across the country after a February 28 compliance deadline expired without full industry compliance.
What Happened
The ZTA closed over 30 unregistered tourism facilities across the country after the compliance deadline lapsed at the end of February, as part of broader efforts to regularise the industry, enhance service standards, and protect visitors from unlicensed operators.
The enforcement operation affected businesses across multiple cities Gweru recorded the highest number of closures with nine establishments shut down, followed by Marondera with five, Mutare with four, and Bulawayo, Masvingo, and Harare each recording three closures, while Chinhoyi saw one.
The Legal Basis
Under Section 36 of the Tourism Act, Chapter 14:20, registration with the ZTA is mandatory and a statutory requirement for all tourism-related businesses. The ZTA collaborated with law enforcement agencies to conduct inspections across all ten provinces.
ZTA CEO George Manyaya was firm:
“In a bid to facilitate compliance, the government has reduced licence and registration fees, promoting the ease of doing business within the sector.”
What It Means for Travellers
Zimbabwe welcomed 1.6 million international visitors in 2024, generating around $1.2 billion in tourism receipts. Travellers are strongly discouraged from using unregistered tourism facilities and are encouraged to report any business operating without valid registration to ZTA.
