Leonard Ncube — Bulawayo Bureau
The tourism sector in the country is on the verge of a significant recovery, driven by an increase in visitor arrivals and bookings, resulting in employment levels that have surpassed those seen before the Covid-19 pandemic.
The global pandemic effectively halted the entire industry as nations enforced travel restrictions from 2020 to 2022.
Consequently, numerous jobs were lost, and several operators were forced to shut down.
However, following the easing of lockdown measures, there has been a resurgence in arrivals and bookings, leading to the creation of new job opportunities.
In Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa introduced the Tourism Growth and Recovery Strategy in 2020, aimed at bolstering domestic tourism and supporting the local industry.
The government has set an ambitious target of US$5 billion for the sector by 2025, a goal that officials claim has already been met.
Tourism plays a vital role in contributing to the Gross Domestic Product, alongside agriculture and mining, with officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry indicating that the sector is poised to outpace the other two.
In a recent interview in Victoria Falls following a National Employment Council (NEC) for Tourism workshop, Mrs. Barbara Murasiranwa-Hughes, president of the Tourism Employers Association, noted that workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic did not face layoffs but rather chose to voluntarily terminate their contracts due to the challenging circumstances.
"We have now surpassed 80 percent of our employment levels from 2019, and most companies have returned to their normal operations," she stated.
The industry is currently experiencing growth. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, our workforce numbered over 700, but this figure decreased to 410 due to voluntary departures. However, we have now successfully restored our workforce to over 700 employees.
"Tourism is among the highest-paying sectors," stated Mrs. Murasiranwa-Hughes.
Addressing concerns regarding the casualization of labor, where shop-floor workers are often on short-term contracts that are frequently renewed, Mrs. Murasiranwa-Hughes explained that this is a result of the seasonal nature of tourism.
"Until the seasonality inherent in tourism is addressed, such employment contracts will persist, as we must ensure the well-being of our employees while maintaining a viable business," she remarked.
Mr. Nomore Nhema, the secretary general of NEC Tourism, also noted the sector's growth.
"The tourism industry is expanding, with new facilities being developed. In 2019, the hospitality and tourism sector employed 7,000 individuals, and this number has now risen to 9,000. We anticipate reaching approximately 15,000 in the next two to three years," he indicated.
"The catering sector currently employs 16,000, bringing the total workforce in the industry to over 25,000."
He mentioned that the NEC will look into the issue of labor casualization.
"The law mandates that employees must be hired under a contract, prohibiting casualization. We will investigate to ensure compliance, and after four years, an employee should transition to permanent status," he stated.
Mr. Nhema added that the NEC Tourism has 320 registered members. Meanwhile, Mr. Cosam Gohori, the legal advisor for NEC Tourism, urged both employers and employees to foster effective industrial relations and continue making significant contributions.
He emphasized that maintaining positive relations between employers and employees leads to increased income.