Strong Dollar And Overpricing, Threaten Tourism Growth

Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the incentive travel consultants training workshop ahead of the Sanganai/Hlanganani that kicks off today, Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE) head of business development manager Adrian Fourie said the issue of pricing was an albatross to the growth of local tourism industry.

“Most the incentive programmes that we are looking at are priced in dollar terms, some people might think that because of the exchange, we are doing ourselves a favour. We should know that our luxury products are pricing in dollar terms and by so doing, we are pushing ourselves out the market.

“As southern region we need to come together in marketing, the pricing of tourism products in Zimbabwe has and is a major stumbling block, the currency has been devalued. In Zimbabwe obviously the currency fluctuates quite a lot, which is also the case with South Africa,” Foure said.

SITE southern African chairperson Tes Proos said incentive groups were always looking for new and unique experiences, destination management companies and need to explore the “wealth of opportunities within their region and work closely with their suppliers to come up with fresh ideas”.

Fourie also took a swipe at the prevailing visa regime, which he said was a major hindrance to the free movement of tourists around the region.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Department recently announced new regulations and a relaxation on the visa regime.

Under the revised visa regime, Immigration department principal director Clemence Masango said 37 countries had been moved from Category C to B meaning that nationals would receive visas on arrival.

The immigration department operates a three-tier model classified into categories A, B and C. Category A refers to countries whose national are exempt from visa requirements, while category B obtain visas at the port of entry.

Category C refers to nationals that are required to apply for visas prior to travel. Among the countries that moved from Category C to B include China, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Algeria, Turkey and Cuba.

The 9th edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani runs up to Saturday at the ZITF grounds in Bulawayo.

TANZANIA: SITE Tourism Exhibition Opens In Tanzania

The second edition of the Swahili International Tourism Expo (SITE) has kicked off in Tanzania’s capital city of Dar es Salaam attracting participants across the world.

Some 103 companies are participating the three-day event. Companies from key African destinations are participating at SITE while trade visitors from several African countries have shown up.

Countries which have brought their representatives to SITE are the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Russia, South Africa, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Seychelles, Germany, China, and Spain.

This year’s SITE has so far attracted 43 International Hosted Buyers made up of tour operators, package safari makers and planners, and travel agents rated as wholesalers. About 2,000 trade visitors are attending as well and are expected to visit the SITE exhibition hall.

The President of the United States Tour Operators Association, Mr. Terry Dale, will address the SITE participants Friday morning on the second day of the exhibition.

Mr. Dale has arrived in Tanzania and has confirmed to this eTN correspondent of his participation at the event and that he will address the event participants.