The Zimbabwe tourism sector has asked for its members to be prioritised in the inoculation against the COVID-19, according to the state media.
The first phase of the vaccination programme, which is currently underway in the southern African country, covers frontline workers in the health sector, customs officials, immigration and those in the security.
"Tourism should also be prioritised in this initial stage of vaccination for a number of reasons," Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Victoria Falls chapter chair, Anald Musonza, was quoted as saying by the Herald newspaper.
"As much as the port entry people have been included over and above health workers, I feel that the people going through those ports of entry spend much time in hotels and lodges being looked after by people who work in the hospitality industry who, therefore, need to be vaccinated to give these people assurances."
However, Hwange District Medical Officer, Fungayi Mvura Musinami said the vaccination programme was phased.
"As much as [we desire] that we avail the vaccine to everyone, we cannot start with everyone unfortunately because resources don't permit but eventually everyone will hopefully have access to the vaccine because they are in a way front-liners," he told the daily.
"We understand that those in the tourism industry are in a community and they interact with visitors as they come in. This is stepwise and we are not ending here. This is where we are starting and we will progress with everyone."
Zimbabwe recently received 200,000 vaccines from China.
Harare seeks to vaccinate about 10 million people out of the country's population to achieve herd immunity.
