The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has welcomed a resolution by Cabinet to partially relax lockdown regulations for the tourism and hospitality sector.

Safari operations are allowed to resume as well as hunting, and national parks can reopen, to help boost domestic tourism. Restaurants may now serve sitting customers within their premises but using only half their licensed capacity.

ZTA Acting CEO, Givemore Chidzidzi, said: “We acknowledge the efforts by the authorities, and indeed the nation, to keep the spread of COVID-19 in check.”

He said the reopening would stimulate domestic tourism and “we anxiously expect regional and international traffic to be allowed soon”.

Chidzidzi said the sector was ready to start operating under the new conditions. “Our work is cut out for us as we have to ensure excellent service provision under the approved guidelines and strict protocols.”