Tourism minister proposes waiver on operators’ fees
Angela Limwanya-The Ministry of Tourism has proposed to the Ministry Finance a 50 percent waiver on various operators’ fees as part of the Covid-19 relief package.
Minister of Tourism, RODNEY SIKUMBA, however, says the waiver will only apply to operators who have been consistent in payments of various fees under the tourism sector before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He explained that the Ministry of Tourism has also extended the 50 percent waiver to tour operators in national parks on variable fee on bed space levy which he says has been an additional cost to doing business.
Mr. SIKUMBA says the Ministry of Tourism will carry out an audit to ascertain tour operators eligible to receive the waiver which will be implemented in the first quarter of this year once approved by the Treasury.
He was speaking in Livingstone when he met various players in the tourism sector.