The Sunday News
Thandeka Matebesi, Business Reporter
THE number of hospitality facilities has remained very low in most high-density suburbs around the country as a result of the stigma attached to lodges and some hotels.
Lodges and hotels have over the years been regarded as a phenomenon of low-density suburbs and it seems it would take a while to convince the high-density populace to accept those hospitality facilities. Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Innocent Manyera said lodges remained unpopular in most high-density areas as they were mostly regarded as brothels.
“Yes, people in some areas are open to the idea of lodges but the challenge might be on saleability of the product given the location. Also some misconceptions of viewing lodges as brothels especially in high-density areas make the number of such ventures low in these areas. The growth of lodges in high-density is promoted by the general acceptance by a particular town’s residents and distance from city centre and business centres,” said Mr Manyera.
He said they were encouraging small operators to register with the relevant authorities so as to account for everyone in the industry and standardising services.
“As a sector, we encourage members to come aboard to join HAZ and as well register their facilities with Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. Most facilities especially small operators are not registered which is difficult for the nation to account for these accommodation stocks. If we are registered we can easily combine and market a destination. Our fees for registration as an operator are not that exorbitant and ZTA has been so generous on reviewing them. Growth is a later stage but we need to account for all operators who are sharing one cake but not registered of which it’s difficult to bid as a country if we don’t know total accommodation stock and even to standardise our services,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Manyera urged people to desist from acts of violence as they have a negative impact on the growth of the economy. He said people should emulate the late Dr Oliver Mtukudzi who was a peacemaker and a great ambassador for the country.
