Zimbabwe tourism services most expensive in region

Zimbabwe is 30-40% more expensive in offering tourists packages and services, a study by the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism (ZCT) has shown.

This comes as the tourism industry is smarting from a 15% value-added tax (VAT) imposed on international tourists' accommodation bills beginning this year.

Speaking at a Press briefing in Harare yesterday, ZCT president Francis Ngwenya said VAT would derail government's goal of a $5 billion tourism sector by 2020.

Ngwenya said tourists should not be regarded as a source of never-ending income and "it must be remembered that Zimbabwe is a destination that competes with every single tourist destination in the world for the tourist dollar".