Rwodzi Says Tourism Prices Lock Zimbabweans Out of Their Parks

Tourism Minister Barbra Rwodzi says Zimbabweans are being priced out of local attractions due to dollar-based tourism rates, pledging reforms to promote local currency pricing, equitable access, and domestic travel incentives (image source)

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbra Rwodzi told Parliament this week that many Zimbabweans are effectively priced out of national attractions because operators charge in foreign currency and set rates that favour international visitors over locals. The minister said the imbalance undermines domestic participation in the sector and undercuts the government’s goal of broad-based tourism benefits. “When a Zimbabwean visits a facility, they are supposed to be using our local currency,” Rwodzi said, urging differential pricing that clearly distinguishes between local and international rates. She told senators the ministry is preparing legislative changes to make pricing more equitable and to encourage family and youth participation in leisure travel.

Rwodzi framed the issue against a positive growth backdrop: the sector has recorded strong expansion this year and international accolades have bolstered inbound demand, but domestic access remains uneven. She highlighted Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Events (MICE) tourism, weddings and local travel as fast-growing contributors to the sector and argued that inclusive pricing will sustain both growth and social value. Industry sources confirmed many operators prefer US dollar pricing to protect margins against exchange-rate volatility and input costs, a practice that deters price-sensitive Zimbabwean holidaymakers. Hoteliers and tour operators told the ministry that dollar pricing simplifies accounting and secures foreign currency receipts for imported supplies and maintenance, but the approach carries clear social costs for local demand.

Rights groups and consumer advocates welcomed Rwodzi’s acknowledgement but urged swift, enforceable measures. They want published guidelines on local tariff tiers, exemptions for vulnerable households, and transparent conversion mechanisms so domestic visitors pay fair, predictable amounts. Civil-society representatives also called for a timetable for the promised legislative amendments and interim measures to shield families from immediate price shocks. The minister said the Cabinet has reviewed tourism levies and fees as part of a wider effort to reduce the sector’s regulatory burden and cut costs that cascade into consumer prices. Rwodzi described a consultative process targeting licences, permits and agency charges across accommodation, guiding, boating and vehicle rental value chains, with the goal of eliminating unnecessary fees that push operators toward dollar pricing.

Tourism economists say pricing reform will only be effective if paired with incentives that encourage operators to accept local currency and invest in domestic marketing. Proposed measures include tax breaks for establishments that publish local rates, a transparent and stable official exchange rate for tourism transactions, and a tourist-voucher scheme to boost weekday occupancy among local visitors. Operators warn that sudden, unfunded policy shifts could strain businesses already coping with utility costs and staffing shortages. The ministry appears to favour a phased approach: publish pricing guidelines, introduce pilot local-rate incentives, and legislate where voluntary compliance fails.

If implemented coherently, the reforms Rwodzi outlines could rebalance access to Zimbabwe’s attractions, deepen domestic demand, and help convert recent international recognition into broad social gains. Observers will watch whether promised timelines and industry engagement translate into lower admission fees and more Zimbabwean families at national parks and cultural sites.