Travelcosa

15/07/2019

Zimbabwe’s inflation rate almost doubled in June from the previous month.
Annual inflation accelerated to 175.7% from 97.9% in May, the statistics office said in an emailed release on Monday.
Prices rose 39.3% in the month.
Key Insights:
Zimbabwe’s Treasury expects changes to the country’s multi-currency system that were announced last month will help rein in inflation later in the year.
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Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said in June he expects inflation to be below 10% by the end of the year.
Inflation in the southern African nation peaked at 500 billion percent in 2008, prompting the government to abandon its Zimbabwe dollar. The government announced last month that foreign currency won’t be legal tender in the country anymore.
Fin24 reported last month that the Zimbabwe dollar is now the only acceptable medium of exchange for local transactions.
This effectively sidelines the multiple currency regime that Zimbabwe has been using alongside the bond notes and the recently introduced RTGS$ currency.
In a Statutory Instrument (SI) at the time, Ncube gazetted the official side-lining of the SA Rand, Botswana P**a and US Dollar as legal tender.

08/07/2019

Read up on

ZANU-PF offered "visionary and mature leadership" but, with soaring unemployment and inflation, there is little sign of it.

27/06/2019

ZIMBABWE UPDATES re Currency....

Tourism stakeholders in Zimbabwe, although unsure, don’t expect the government’s announcement to make the Zimbabwean dollar the sole currency for legal tender purposes to impact international tourists significantly.

The decision came into effect on June 24, ending the multicurrency regime the country has been using. A Government Gazette issued on the day states: “…the British pound, United States dollar, South African rand, Botswana p**a and any other foreign currency whatsoever shall no longer be legal tender alongside the Zimbabwe dollar in any transactions in Zimbabwe.”

But Shane White, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at Wild Horizons, says that, as far as Wild Horizons is aware, foreign payments will continue to be accepted at ports of entry for things such as visa payments. “Foreign credit cards will continue to be accepted at hotels, shops, restaurants etc as they simply apply the applicable rate of exchange on the transaction. This will also apply to booking activities with us and other operators.”

Shane says the change is intended to bring Zimbabwe back to a situation where it has its own currency once more. “The main difference now is that a person going into a local shop will only be able to pay cash in local currency. Credit cards will be accepted.”



For local business owners

Zimbabwe’s central bank has also ordered companies and all stakeholders to stick to new regulations outlawing the use of foreign currency for local transactions by ensuring that all prices of commodities and services are marked in bond and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) denominations.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, June 25, and signed by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe’s Exchange Control director, C. Tembo, the central bank said company executives should, with immediate effect, discontinue the multiple currency system.

Bernie Cragg, Director at Far and Wide, a tour operator in the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe, says the latest development made the working environment difficult. “It’s too early to tell. Hopefully it will return Zimbabwe to normalcy. Everyone has been encouraged to spend money of late by allowing the US$/RTGS$ rate to run. The Ministry of Finance have effectively reduced RTGS balances in bank accounts to a manageable amount that can now perhaps be covered by the US$ cash reserves the Ministry has built up. But everything is so unpredictable and it is a very difficult environment to operate in,” said Cragg.

He said they would engage the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority for clarity on whether to charge and accept payments from non-residents in foreign currency. “We have to comply with Government directives and the law and are only quoting prices and accepting payment in Z$ for local residents.”t

25/06/2019

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has made the Zimbabwean dollar the sole currency for legal tender purposes.

Coming into effect on June 24, the British pound, United States dollar, South African rand, Botswana p**a and any other foreign currency whatsoever shall no longer be a legal tender alongside the Zimbabwean dollar in any transactions in Zimbabwe.

This ends the multiple currency regime that Zimbabwe has been using.

Tourism Update will inform readers about the situation.

08/05/2019

Stunning spot!!

03/05/2019

Pretty eastern cape

25/03/2019

Useful article

New rules for checking in bags of irregular shape and size have come into effect OR Tambo International Airport.

22/03/2019

TRAVELLING TO USA - MUST READ THEN

South African Airways would like to advise its customers of the additional restrictions for passengers transiting on the way to the United States of America.

The restrictions relate to carriage of Liquids, Aerosols and Gels (LAGS) purchased in duty-free areas of the airports by passengers in transit on flights originating from Johannesburg, Accra and Dakar.

“In terms of the United States’ Transportation Security Administration (TSA), there will be additional security requirements for flights to the United States of America (USA) and these will be in the form of restrictions to carry certain specified items in the cabin under specified circumstances. These restrictions are imposed on all passengers in transit/transfer to the USA and will apply to both SAA flights to the United States,” said SAA spokesperson, Tlali Tlali.

READ: From Istanbul to Accra: New airports and terminals that launched in 2018 - plus planned projects for 2019

SAA has two flights daily to Washington D.C and to New York. The flight to New York is a non-stop operation, whilst the flight to Washington D.C goes via Accra and Dakar (four and three times a week respectively). LAGS may not be transported in cabin baggage (accessible property) of any passengers connecting to the USA from Johannesburg, Accra, and Dakar.

This requirement does, however, not affect duty-free purchased at the last point of departure (Johannesburg, Accra, and Dakar). For SAA to comply with this restriction, SAA’s Security Gate Search Teams conducting current gate passenger screening will verify any duty-free items purchased at upstream airports and will deny the carriage of such items on the flight, regardless of whether such items are packed in security tamper evidence bags (STEB’s) or not.

Passengers are advised to factor this in when planning to transit/transfer through Johannesburg, Accra, and Dakar to avoid unnecessary discomfort and/or possible loss of their items.

“SAA apologises for any inconvenience that could result from the restrictions imposed. We trust that our discerning passengers will appreciate that from time to time there will be changes introduced in the industry by the regulators or by agencies of jurisdictions to which SAA operates. These measures are aimed at improving security and safety of all across the value chain,” explained Tlali. “The restrictions will apply to all flights to the United States only, with effect from 25 March 2019,” concluded Tlali.

04/03/2019

THINGS TO DO IN VICTORIA FALLS
The Victoria Falls is a unique destination that offers a full complement of adrenaline activities as well as a range of serene experiences, thanks to the unique phenomenon of the Falls, says Robert Hodson, Divisional Operations Manager of Legacy Hotels Group.

Tourism Update asked members of the trade to pick their top activities:

Devil’s Pool
This hair-raising activity is recommended by Nik Lloyd-Roberts, Spokesperson for Federal Air, and Madeleine Hetem, MD of Tamrich Tours. Lloyd-Roberts says this is a must, although it can only be done at certain times of the year. “This is an epic, heart-racing experience.” Hetem comments: “Our family day trip and dip in the Devil’s Pool on the very edge of the falls in the middle of the mighty Zambezi River’s pristine Livingstone Island left us and our children with shareable, indelible memories.” This experience takes place from the Zambia side.

The 'Flight of Angels' helicopter flight
This helicopter flight takes its name from the writing of David Livingstone, who described seeing the Victoria Falls for the first time in 1855 as " scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”. The flights offer views of the Falls and Zambezi River, with the opportunity to see elephants and hippos in and around the river. Helicopter rides are available on both sides of the Falls.

The Victoria Falls Tram
For those interested in the history of Victoria Falls, Sara Gardiner, family owner of Matetsi Victoria Falls, recommends the old-world tram operated by Pure Africa. “Enjoy this experience with its delicious lunch and historical bridge tour,” she says. Hetem also recommends it. “The steam train offers fabulous on-board dinner excursions that take guests back to yesteryear and the setting certainly conveys an About-in-Africa feel.” The tram is operated from the Zimbabwean side.

Sunset cruises
Lloyd-Roberts also recommends a sunset cruise. “I did a sunset cruise on the Zambezi Queen, which was exceptional,” he says, adding that the setting sun and the wildlife along the river are “magnificent”. “The sunset whilst on a cruise along the mighty Zambezi is truly memorable,” says Hetem. Sunset cruises are available on both sides of the Falls.

Adrenaline activities
If adventure and adrenaline are what appeal, then the list of activities is almost endless, from bungee jumping to white-water rafting and even sky-diving, says Gardiner. The bridge swing and micro-lighting are also options.

04/03/2019

The Wild Horizons Lookout Café is expected to open mid-year after fire damage over the festive season forced its closure.

Wilma Griffith, Sales and Marketing at Wild Horizons, says the operator is using the unexpected destruction of the café as an opportunity for enhancement. “In order to make the café more environmentally friendly, all wooden decks will be replaced with composite decking. The thatch will be replaced with a chromadek roof,” she says. (Chromadek is zinc coated steel substrate.)

“The new, African contemporary-styled Lookout Café will be designed to emphasise our panoramic view of the Victoria Falls Bridge and Batoka gorge,” she says.

“While we have not confirmed an official reopening date, we are accepting provisional bookings from July onwards.”

The Lookout Café is perched on the rim of the Batoka gorge, overlooking the Zambezi River.