Most Zimbabwe tourism industry players keep their cash outside the country

Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Walter Mzembi has revealed that Zimbabwe is benefiting less from tourists as most industry players keep their cash outside the country.

Mzembi says tourism players should bank locally.

"With special to Victoria Falls, we receive the people and offer everything yet the accounts are kept in South Africa," said Mzembi.

"The accounts should be held locally for the benefit of the nation which is currently facing liquidity challenges," he added.

Zimbabwe government officials have in the past cried foul on what they termed ambush marketing by South African tourism players who advertise the mighty Victoria Falls as being in their country to lure in European tourist.

Zimbabwe's tourism industry declined over the past decade due to negative publicity by the Western media.

This was in response to Harare's revolutionary agrarian reforms that saw nearly 300 000 black families benefiting from land previously held by just 6 000 white farmers.

This saw some Western countries issuing travel warnings to their citizens, advising them against visiting Zimbabwe.

However, concerted efforts by the Government have seen the sector rebounding.