High data costs ‘bad for tourism’

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THE Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe (TBCZ) says the arrival of low-cost internet service providers would help reduce operating costs in the tourism sector, as high data costs remain a major challenge.

Addressing a media briefing, TBCZ president Clive Chinwada said, “So as a sector, our plea has always been around the cost of doing business. Data is one critical cost that affects our operations and that is affecting our operations currently
“For instance, when we talk about the coming in of Starlink, we believe our small operators will be able to ride on that.”
Chinwada expressed optimism about the future, saying, “We also believe that the cost of data itself will continue coming down and that this would ultimately benefit tourists and our pricing so that we become more competitive.”
This development comes as Zimbabwe recently approved the licensing of Starlink, a global satellite-based internet service provider offering high-speed and low-cost broadband internet services, particularly in underserved and remote areas.
Experts believe that Starlink will complement existing services and help bridge the digital divide in Zimbabwe, especially in rural communities.
An international business expert, Macdonald Ndovi, recently told The Financial Gazette, “Starlink fills the gaps in coverage left by Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), effectively extending digital connectivity across the country.”
Financial analyst Tinashe Mukogo added that Starlink’s reliance on low-earth orbit satellites necessitates a clear view of the sky and limits its effectiveness in densely populated areas.
Meanwhile, Chinwada highlighted the positive outlook for the tourism sector in the post-Covid era, stating, “We have in the past two years seen periods in which travel and tourism contribution to gross domestic product has from time to time overtaken those of other sectors for short periods and we look forward to seeing statistics for calendar year 2024 early next year.”
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