HARARE, Jun. 19 (NewsDay Live) — Zimbabwe’s tourism sector is targeting US$1.56 billion in revenue this year, buoyed by rising international arrivals and strong domestic travel growth despite persistent infrastructure and operational challenges.
According to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority's (ZTA) first-quarter 2026 performance report, international tourist arrivals rose 11% to 384,515 during the period under review, up from 347,555 a year earlier.
Domestic tourism also recorded strong growth, with an estimated 2.62 million local trips in the first quarter, compared with 1.94 million during the same period in 2025.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ZTA’s first annual general meeting, chief executive officer George Manyaya said the sector remained on a positive growth trajectory and was on course to meet its annual targets.
“Our target this year is 1.87 million international arrivals and about 15.7 million domestic trips,” Manyaya said.
“We are aiming to close the year with tourism revenue of US$1.56 billion. Our performance indicators show we are moving in the right direction.”
The outlook follows international recognition for Zimbabwe as a leading travel destination. Last year, Forbes listed the country among its top destinations to visit, boosting its global profile and investor confidence.
Manyaya said the recognition had strengthened Zimbabwe’s tourism brand and created momentum for further growth.
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“The recognition by Forbes as a must-visit destination was based on several criteria, and we believe we have made significant progress since then. We are confident Zimbabwe will continue attracting more visitors because we are improving our tourism offering,” he said.
The ZTA is also stepping up efforts to improve compliance across the sector through regular inspections and enforcement measures.
Manyaya said the authority had launched compliance blitzes targeting unregistered operators and reduced registration and licensing fees by 50% to encourage formalisation.
“We want compliance to become a continuous process rather than something operators consider only when inspections are announced,” he said.
“We have reduced registration and licence fees by 50%, making it easier for tourism players to comply. There is no reason for operators not to register.”
He said the authority was also exploring systems to improve monitoring of tourism transactions and revenue flows, enhancing transparency and regulatory oversight.
At the same time, the ZTA is encouraging operators to introduce discounted packages and special offers to make travel more affordable for local and international tourists.
“We want tourists to visit Zimbabwe throughout the year. To achieve that, we are encouraging operators to offer attractive packages while government and industry work together to market the country’s tourism products,” Manyaya said.
Meanwhile, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Ministry permanent secretary Takaruza Munyanyiwa said the ministry was working with other government departments to improve the visitor experience and remove bureaucratic bottlenecks.
“It is impossible to develop tourism without collaborating with key stakeholders in both the public and private sectors,” Munyanyiwa said.
“We work closely with the Ministry of Transport and other institutions on issues relating to roads, air transport and rail infrastructure. The objective is to ensure visitors enjoy a seamless experience when they come to Zimbabwe.”
Munyanyiwa said the government was implementing a whole-of-government approach to tourism development, in line with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s call for greater inter-ministerial cooperation.
He added that efforts were underway to improve services at ports of entry, including airports, to reduce delays and enhance efficiency for visitors.
Tourism remains one of Zimbabwe’s key foreign-currency earners and is expected to play an increasingly important role in economic growth, job creation and investment attraction.
The ZTA is scheduled to host the Sangani/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Masvingo in September as part of efforts to promote the country’s tourism industry.
