The Sunday News
Wilson Dakwa, Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE Youth in Tourism (ZYIT) will soon approach the country’s tourism regulators seeking to be temporarily exempted from payment of various fees so as to enable them to grow their businesses.
ZYIT president Mr Steward Mutizwa said the licences required in the tourism industry were a bit expensive for young entrepreneurs.
ZYIT is a non-profit organisation of more than 500 youth associations in tourism and environmental sectors.
It is the largest organisation registered with Zimbabwe Youth Council (ZYC) and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) to co-ordinate, supervise and foster activities of National Youth in Tourism association and club who are in the environment and tourism sector composed of youth below the age of 35.
“It’s quite difficult for one to procure a licence in the tourism industry. We therefcse waivers for youths to run their businesses smoothly while working on securing them. The requirements for one to get liceces in the tourism sector are not favourable to the youths and we will deliberate about this at the African Youth in Tourism conference,” said Mr Mutizwa.
ZTA chief operations officer Mr Givemore Chidzidzi said ZYIT was yet to approach them but hinted that the organisation needed to be specific on the type of licences it wants its members to be exempted from paying.
“ZYIT is yet to officially approach us and other licensing boards pertaining to the waivers which they want us to offer them. They also have to be specific about which licences they want waivers on because there are many licences and ZTA is not the sole licensing board. We are hoping that at the African Youth in Tourism conference we will discuss these issues and deliberate on how youth participation can be enhanced in the tourism sector,” said Mr Chidzidzi.
The general requirements for all licence categories include a bank statement or letter from Bank, Public Liability Insurance (minimum $5 000), brochure or promotional material, copy of Certificate of Incorporation, CR 14, certified copy of balance sheet or statement of capital, value of investment, copy Identification Document of directors, photographs, details of provision for disabled ( where applicable).
Mr Mutizwa said there was also a need for youths to have representation in the tourism board so as to enable them to present their grievances.
“We want specific desks for youths in the tourism sector. Our take is that we need to be involved in decision making processes because decisions which are made also have an impact on us. Hence, we are lobbying for youths’ representation in all tourism boards to push the youth agenda and ensure that our voices are heard and considered,” said Mr Mutizwa.
He said the inaugural African Youth in Tourism Conference to be held at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair from 6 to 9 September would aim at promoting continental integration and a single destination vision among youths in Africa while it would seek to actively involve youths in the development of tourism across the continent.
“We want to come up with an Africa Youth in Tourism Charter and also coordinate projects for youths. We also want to bring about the Tourism Donor Fraternity which will facilitate for the funding of youths’ projects,” he added.
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