Government has announced a wide-ranging package of Ease of Doing Business reforms targeting the tourism sector, saying the measures are aimed at reducing regulatory costs, improving competitiveness, and attracting new investment into one of the country’s key economic pillars.
The reforms, unveiled by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Mthuli Ncube, follow earlier work undertaken in the livestock, transport, wholesale, and retail sectors since September 2025.
Government says the latest changes form part of a broader economic transformation agenda to expand investment, stimulate growth, and strengthen Zimbabwe’s position as a leading regional destination for leisure and business travel.
According to the Ministry, the tourism industry—central to job creation and foreign currency earnings—will now operate under a more simplified and predictable regulatory environment.
Licensing and Regulatory Fees Reduced
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has been designated as the primary regulator for all tourism businesses, with licensing processes consolidated and digitised to accelerate approvals. Local authority licence fees, previously varying widely across municipalities, have been cut by 50 percent.
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ZTA has also reduced hotel licence renewal fees, with the cost of registering or renewing a five-star hotel licence lowered to US$2 000 from as much as US$5 250. Guest house registration fees have been reduced to US$150 from US$500. Requirements such as separate liquor licences have been scrapped where they duplicated local authority regulations.
Incentives to Spur Investment
New fiscal and policy incentives have been introduced to attract investment in accommodation, conferencing, aviation, eco-tourism, and cultural tourism. These include duty rebates for capital equipment and tax holidays for new tourism developments, particularly in Tourism Development Zones.
Several fees have also been reduced, including the scrapping of the US$600 annual Commercial Boat Permit, a 50 percent cut to the Houseboat Permit (now US$1 250), and a reduction in the External Tour Operators Licence from US$3 000 to US$1 500.
Aircraft registration fees have been drastically lowered to US$20 from between US$500 and US$1 000. Fees for ancillary services such as conference organisers, travel agencies, restaurants, and fast-food operators have been reduced to US$100 from US$305.
Government has also cut the cost of the General Investment Licence from US$5 000 annually to US$4 000 over three years, while reducing fees for Special Economic Zone designation to encourage industrial development and enhance Zimbabwe’s competitiveness in the region.
Infrastructure and Marketing Improvements
Government says ongoing infrastructure upgrades—including improvements at the Beitbridge Border Post, rehabilitation of the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road, and the introduction of smart technologies at ports of entry—will enhance the visitor experience and reduce operational delays.
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