Purpose This study aims to examine the influence of service quality, satisfaction, trust, value and commitment on hotel customers’ attitudinal and behavioural loyalty.

The study investigated the supremacy of raising tourism destination awareness in improving brand loyalty. This was based on the fact that Zimbabwe as a tourism destination has received global awareness through various campaigns but still failing to improve its tourism destination brand loyalty. Therefore the study applied both a positivists and interpretivist’s paradigm using quantitative and qualitative research designs respectively. Sequentially the research design started with a qualitative approach whereby senior managers in the tourism industry were interviewed and agreed that the most common sources of brand loyalty are brand awareness, brand image and perceived brand quality. These variables were then investigated on their relationship to brand loyalty using survey questionnaires that were distributed to the three main sectors of the tourism industry namely accommodation, travel and resorts. The results of the study showed that brand image is the most dominant variable which needs to be uplifted in order to improve Zimbabwe tourism destination’s brand loyalty. This is then followed by brand awareness and perceived brand quality. It is when there is an acceptable image of the Zimbabwe’s tourism brand that positive brand awareness will be created and perceived quality will be enhanced in moment of truth experiences. The study recommended an intensive media campaign to change the current negative perception on Zimbabwe as a tourism destination and sponsored familarisation tours. Also the study recommended an effective evaluation of the tourism products and services in order to see if they are of required quality and an intensive stakeholder involvement in brand formulation.

The zeitgeist of mobile banking epoch in Sub-Saharan Africa has marked a fundamental transition from the use of physical currency, debit/credit cards and cheques towards a mobile banking e-commerce. In these countries mobile banking provides consumers with added-on advantages such as user-friendliness, cost effective, fast transaction speeds and increased customer satisfaction. Despite the popularity of mobile banking, consumers in most rural areas have largely remained excluded from such beneficial financial innovation. In addition, the extent to which mobile banking services are being adopted by rural consumers has not increased as expected, yet, economic growth and development of Sub-Saharan Africa could fundamentally be contingent on how these potential consumers adopt and use mobile banking innovations. The main objective of the study was to examine the adoption of mobile banking in Sub-Saharan African rural areas drawing lessons from Zimbabwe. Quantitative data was collected using a questionnaire from a random sample of 100 respondents. The findings show that the likelihood of adopting mobile banking in rural Sub-Saharan Africa regions are influenced by perceived usefulness, compatibility perceived ease of use and demographic factors. The likelihood of deferring the adoption of mobile banking are due to complexity, relative advantages, perceived usefulness, social influence and perceived risk. The study recommends policies that reduce perceived risk and complexity, increase trust, confidentiality and awareness knowledge among rural user. Contribution/Originality:The study contributes to the existing literature by employing both technology acceptance model and multinomial regression technique to examine factors that affect the probability of adopting mobile banking in rural areas of developing economies. INTRODUCTIONSince time immemorial, payment systems have always been part and parcel of the human race evolution. The gradual development in payment methods started with barter transactions, then cash, followed by cheques, and later metamorphosed to electronic payment systems. In recent years innovations in financial intermediation have gained accelerated traction in developing countries abetted by the speedy diffusion of communication technology and other ancillary telecommunication infrastructure. Consequently, traditional payment systems in many Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries have since gravitated towards the adoption of mobile phones for making payments and receiving funds. Traditionally the payment systems have primarily been expedited by banks and financial institutions. Nevertheless, in recent years mobile banking has expanded from being the sole preserve of financial

The study investigated the contribution of local communities to Zimbabwe tourism destination brand equity through sustainable tourism practices, with a view of developing a model. A comparative investigation of two popular resorts in Zimbabwe which are Victoria Falls and Domboshava Curves was carried out. A sequential mixed method was used to get research data. Results from in-depth interviews showed that sustainable brand equity through community involvement can be developed from the following: maintaining culture; attractive traditional villages; traditional music and dances; unique traditional dressing; provision of indigenous food and drinks; guiding tourists and provision of transport and accommodation. A further survey then produced variables that were used to construct a community based sustainable brand equity model for the study. These variables were then grouped into two that is, household activities and service provision. Household activities included: providing indigenous food and drinks; attractive homesteads; and unique dress code. The service provision was discovered as guiding tourists in their activities and provision of transport. The study then recommended local eco-responsibility, destination manager partner with locals, cultural tourism focus and customisation of sustainable tourism.

This study explored the effect of green management in sustainable development in the branding of Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism sector in Zimbabwe. The study focused on businesses in the accommodation, travel and resorts areas of the tourism industry in Zimbabwe. The study used both quantitative and qualitative research design whereby data was extracted from the respondents using questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The key respondents to the study were managers and employees in the accommodation, travel sectors. The results of the study showed that SMEs in the Zimbabwean tourism industry do not appreciate the impact of green management as a branding tool. The findings indicated that most of the respondents were not aware on what of what green management is all about. A few managers appreciated the concept and concurred that green management in deed was being practised by large corporations the world over. It was concluded that having green and eco-labels displayed on business premises, letterheads and other business exchange would improve their branding and identity to the world. The study recommended that the operators in the accommodation, travel and resorts should adopt green and eco-certification programs so as to attract the modern enlightened tourist who is green and eco-sensitive.