Zimbabwe Trims Fees and Levies to Boost Tourism Competitiveness

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi (image source)

Zimbabwe’s Cabinet has given the green light to a sweeping review of licences, permits, levies, and fees within the tourism sector, marking a bold stride toward easing regulatory burdens and revitalizing one of the nation’s most strategic industries. The decision comes in compliance with President Mnangagwa’s directive, launched at the end of July, to implement ease-of-doing-business reforms across 12 pivotal sectors within six months. Tourism joins health, agriculture, retail, transport, energy, manufacturing, broadcasting, telecommunications, liquor, construction, and financial services in the reform drive.

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi emphasized the consultative nature of policy design. The review focused on four major value chains: accommodation/hospitality, tour guiding/operations, boating services, and vehicle rentals. The government identified numerous overlapping, unnecessary, or excessively punitive fees and permits, responding by scrubbing, halving, or entirely eliminating them. Fee reductions range from 25% to 50%, with some eliminated altogether.

Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube highlighted evidence-based decision-making: findings by the National Competitiveness Centre (NCC) revealed that the cost structure had rendered Zimbabwe’s tourism sector globally uncompetitive. “We used a very fine-tooth comb,” he stated, confident that meaningful cuts would restore competitiveness.

Tourism, anchored by destinations like Victoria Falls, Hwange, Mana Pools, the Eastern Highlands, and the Great Zimbabwe ruins, remains a critical pillar of Zimbabwe’s economy. According to UNESCO and tourism authorities, these rich cultural and natural assets are global draws. Yet, high entry costs through licensing and levies have turned bureaucratic friction into barriers.

According to Dr. Tendai Moyo, a tourism economist: “Fee reduction is more than a relief — it is a signal that investors and operators are welcome again. By streamlining red tape, Zimbabwe will unlock both domestic and foreign capital for infrastructure, training, and marketing.”

Ms. Winnie Muchanyuka, Chief Executive of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, commented that reduced regulatory friction would now allow the Authority to shift focus toward international outreach, strategic partnerships, and niche product development like eco-tourism and cultural heritage routes.

Although the reforms are widely welcomed, there are cautions from within the industry. Dr. Peggy Ncube, a hospitality policy expert, reminds stakeholders that fee cuts must be accompanied by safeguarding measures: “Some levies fund vital inspections — for health, safety, and environmental standards. The government must maintain robust monitoring to ensure quality and safety are not casualties of deregulation.”

Key success factors will include publication of the revised schedule, as Rwodzi promised that detailed lists of adjusted licences and fees would be released soon. In addition, awareness among hoteliers, guides, and operators is essential to ensure uptake and compliance. The reforms are not set in stone. Ministers have indicated that the revised framework will undergo refinement to stay aligned with evolving business needs.

By reducing entry costs and streamlining duplicative compliance, Zimbabwe aims to reassert its posture as a premier southern African tourist hub. If executed well, the reforms could significantly boost private sector confidence, attract new arrivals, and pave the way for innovative tourism products.