Zimbabwe Safari Lodge | The Hide

Article Source:The Herald (Harare)

Harare

THE Zimbabwe Tourism Authority will soon standardise prices that foreign tourists are charged in an effort to protect them from unscrupulous operators, an official said last Saturday.

Speaking at the Sanganai/ Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair, ZTA chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke said the authority would promptly address overcharging.

Mr Kaseke said uniformity of pricing structures had become critical as operators charged prices that could seriously hamper the inflow of foreign tourists.

The ZTA boss was responding to a call by tourism sector’s patron Vice President Joice Mujuru who officiated at the fair last Friday.

The Vice President noted that unfair pricing “could discourage tourism.”

“It has come to our attention that some unscrupulous operators charged ridiculous prices for instance a bottle of beer bought at wholesale price was being sold for 20 rand,” he said.

A bottle of beer is supposed to cost less than half the prices which were being charged.

Hotels and tour operators in Bulawayo are alleged to have increased prices during the tourism showcase to maximise profits.

International buyers attending the inaugural fair complained of outrageous prices, which were different for the same product that foreign tourists have had to contend with.

In her speech, VP Mujuru called on “tourism regulatory authorities to come up with mutually acceptable pricing formula.”

“When the Presidium says something to us, that is policy and we will not delay in implementing ideas suggested,” Mr Kaseke said.