The ongoing COVID-19 vaccination programmes across Zimbabwe and the world have ignited some hope for the recovery of the local tourism and hospitality sector, a tourism business executive has said.
In his remarks in the recently released Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) 31 December 2020 financial results, the company’s board chairman, Arthur Manase lamented how the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the local tourism and hospitality sector and how this was likely to persist into this year.
“The tourism industry was adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. While the current situation is likely to persist into early 2021, we remain confident that the tourism industry will in time rebound and set the hotel business on a path towards recovery,” Manase said.
Manase, who is also the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) Chief Executive Officer, however, expressed hope that the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination would form the basis for the recovery of the tourism and international travel.
“A glimmer of hope has come from the ongoing vaccine efforts around the world and in Zimbabwe. This process is expected to facilitate the quick recovery of economies worldwide as well as the gradual recovery of international travel,” said Manase.
The RTG is one of the major players in the local tourism and hospitality industry. It owns hotels in Harare, Bulawayo, Kadoma and Victoria Falls which provide both accommodation and business events venues. Its flagship hotel is the Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre in Harare, which boasts of 304 beds, a number of conference rooms and a 4 500 seater auditorium.