Source: ZTA to shut down unregistered tourism facilities – herald
Sunday Mail Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) says it will shut down all tourism facilities operating without valid registration, as the Government moves to tighten compliance and restore order in the sector.
In a statement, the ZTA said registration was not optional but a legal requirement under Section 36 of the Tourism Act, and operators who fail to comply by the set deadline risk immediate closure.
This comes after the Cabinet last year approved plans to implement a sweeping reduction of licensing fees and levies across several key sectors as part of wide-ranging reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business, strengthening compliance and stimulating economic growth.
“The Government of Zimbabwe, in its ongoing efforts to improve the ease of doing business, has significantly reduced licence and registration fees across all categories, with the objective of fostering a competitive, compliant and sustainable tourism sector,” said ZTA.
“In this regard, and in terms of Section 36 of the Tourism Act, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority hereby notifies all tourism-related businesses, also known as designated tourist facilities, that registration with the authority is mandatory and a statutory requirement. Failure to register will result in the closure of unregistered facilities.”
A nationwide compliance blitz will be launched beginning March 1, 2026.
“To enforce compliance, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, in collaboration with law-enforcement agencies, will conduct nationwide inspections across all 10 provinces to verify registration status, ensure adherence to regulatory standards and take enforcement action against all non-compliant operators,” the statement reads.
“The public is strongly discouraged from utilising unregistered tourism facilities and is encouraged to report any facility operating without valid registration to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.”
ZTA said the deadline for registration is February 28, 2026, after which inspectors would move in to ensure that only properly registered and compliant facilities remain operational.
The move is expected to bring sanity to the tourism sector by weeding out illegal operators, protecting tourists from substandard services and ensuring that businesses meet prescribed safety and quality standards.
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