Due date: 13/11/2020 SHANTEL CHIWARA REG NUMBER: C20142146X INTRODUCTION TO TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY: CUHT121 ASSIGNMENT 1 QUESTION:COVID 19 HAS CAUSED DESTRUCTION IN THE TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY RESULTING IN THE INDUSTRY LOSING A LOT OF REVENUE. IN LIGHT OFTHIS DEVELOPMENT DISCUSS HOW THE ZIM TOURISM INDUSTRY CAN INNOVATIVELY USE DOMESTIC TOURISM TO RESUSCITATE THE INDUSTRY COVID 19, also known as coronavirus is new strain of infection that emerged at the end of 2019 and has since spread to over 140 countries, with more than 250 000 confirmed cases across the globe. At the beginning of 2020, Africa’s tourism sector looked set for a lucrative year. The continent had the world’s second fastest growing tourism industry and was projected to rake in billions of dollars. But when COVID 19 struck, tourists stopped coming and the industry ground to a sudden halt (Combs L, HLB USA). According to World Tourism Organisation (WTO), domestic tourism is the travel of people residing in a country who travels to places within their country, outside their usual environment for a period not exceeding twelve months and whose main purpose of visit is other than the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited. 80% from the tourists contributed to the revenue. But due to COVID 19, the revenue has crumbled down. Most tourism industries are in survival period. In 2019 the contribution of travel and tourism to GDP (% of GDP) for Zimbabwe was 6,5%. Zimbabwe received a total of US$1,25 billion in tourism receipts in 2019. ZIMBABWE TOURISM GDP Domestic tourism has not been performing well in the country owing to various challenges that range from poor marketing strategies by the industry and also exorbitant pricing structure at a time when most people have very little disposable income which they would rather channel towards basic commodities such as food and paying rentals. One industry that is suffering the most immediate repercussions is the hospitality and leisure industry. It is among the hardest hit due to fears of community spread through travel and group environments. It has resulted in cancelation of events, conferences, sports leagues which has immediately driven down travel and tourism for business and pleasure (Nebe C, March 2020). Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) says it is ready to implement ideas and proposals on domestic tourism that came out of the stakeholder workshops in Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria falls. ZTA and Zimbabwe parks can agree on co-branding on both print and electronic media and website linkages. There could be a joint school engagement with ZTA. This way students could go on trips to resorts and attraction centres. Upgrading of standards for accommodation within the parks estate therefore luring more customers to experiences new facilities. In order to give citizens an opportunity to visit resorts in the country, parks should would work on a proposal for a free day into the park estate. Fly now pay later where all civil servants and Zimbabweans that show proof of regular income will enjoy the benefits of flying and paying for their ticket after they have already travelled (Nicola et al, 2020). The domestic tourism team should carry out a domestic tourism awareness program to schools throughout the country for example road shows. This is to resuscitate the culture of domestic travel. DOMESTIC TOURISM CAMPAIGN Players should revisit their pricing structures if significant inroads are to be made in domestic tourism (Basera V, 2018) this way it can be affordable to the local people and many people could have an opportunity to visit to these sites. Artwork can help promote the industry through selling portraits to the local community. There should also be a joint publicity with the ZTV so as to advertise the tourism sector to the world. Since we are coming to a holiday month, more families would want to go out and enjoy so great deal services should be provided so as to increase tourism revenue and to be able to get back on our feet. In conclusion the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has to play a bigger role in order for the tourism industry to be alive again. In all hopes the campaign that was launched by the government to revive the country’s coronavirus-hit tourism industry will have a quick start in the resuscitation. REFERENCE LIST: (Cai Nebe, March 2020) (Lena Combs, HLB USA) (Nicola et al, 2020) (Vitalis Basera, 2018)
