TOURISM RECEIPTS SURGE 14PC IN FIRST QUARTER

ZIMBABWE’S tourism sector has performed well in the first quarter of 2026, with receipts surging 14 percent to US$251 million from US$221 million and arrivals rising 11 percent, marking one of the strongest post-pandemic recoveries for a key foreign currency earner.

Following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in December 2019, the tourism sector was the hardest hit industry as the World Health Organization imposed national lockdowns and travel restrictions to curb the spread of the deadly respiratory infection that killed millions of people across the globe.

Latest figures from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) show that international tourist arrivals rose to 384 561 in the first quarter of 2026, up from 347 555 during the same period last year, underlining sustained demand and improved competitiveness of the destination.

Africa accounted for 75 percent of total arrivals in the quarter under review — slightly down from 76 percent in the same period last year.

President Mnangagwa’s re-engagement drive and heritage-based tourism strategy continue to deliver tangible results, positioning Zimbabwe as one of Africa’s fastest-rising tourism destinations.

Under this bold vision, the country has recorded remarkable international recognition, with Tourism Minister Barbara Rwodzi being named Africa’s Best Minister of Tourism, while Zimbabwe was crowned Best Natural Destination — Wonders by PATWA during ITB Berlin. Adding to the momentum, Forbes also listed Zimbabwe among the world’s must-visit destinations, further cementing the country’s global tourism appeal.

Minister Rwodzi was also named  the top performing Cabinet minister for 2025.

The aggressive tourism growth and destination protection agenda received another major boost in February with the appointment of Dr George Manyaya as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA). His appointment has been widely viewed as a strategic move to accelerate destination marketing, strengthen investor confidence, and safeguard Zimbabwe’s rich tourism heritage.

With tourism receipts also spiralling upwards from US$221 million to US$251 million, this reinforces the sector’s strategic role as Zimbabwe’s key foreign currency earner and economic growth driver.

ZTA attributed the strong performance to the country’s rising global profile, with international recognition boosting confidence in the destination.

“International tourist arrivals increased by 11 percent from 347 555 in 2025 to 384 561, while tourism receipts grew by 14 percent to US$251 million, up from US$221 million.

“This performance is reinforced by Zimbabwe’s growing global profile, including recognition by Forbes as one of the world’s top destinations in 2025 and the award for ‘Destination of the Year for Natural Wonders’ at ITB Berlin 2026, while the Minister of Tourism, Barbara Rwodzi, was named Tourism Minister of the Year (Africa) due to the sector’s vigorous recovery and strategic growth under her direction,” it said.

“The positive trajectory is supported by improved air connectivity, expanded domestic and regional flight networks, and cluster-based tourism development initiatives.

“Domestic tourism emerged as a key pillar of growth, with trips rising significantly to 2,62 million from 1,94 million last year, driven largely by social travel, religious tourism and education-related visits.”

On the international front, the growth in arrivals was recorded across all major source markets.

Arrivals from Africa increased by nine percent, while overseas markets registered a stronger 16 percent growth.

The share of overseas markets edged up from 24 percent in 2025 to 25 percent this year. Overseas tourists are typically high spenders, meaning their growing contribution is enhancing the overall value of tourism inflows into the country.

Despite the positive trajectory, on account of the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, warning signs have begun to emerge with route disruptions and rising fuel costs triggering a 12 percent decline in inbound tourism in March alone.

The conflict affected all source markets, although long-haul overseas arrivals bore the brunt due to their reliance on international flight connectivity.

While national average hotel occupancy levels improved marginally to 38 percent during the quarter under review from 37 percent in the corresponding period last year, performance varied across provinces.

In the period under review, Manicaland recorded a notable recovery in hotel occupancies, spiking to 42 percent from 27 percent in the same period last year, with Mashonaland East also achieving a remarkable progress of 19 percent from 11 percent.

Hotel occupancy rate in Mashonaland Central declined by nine percentage points to reach 17 percent in the first quarter under review, while Matabeleland South also suffered a decrease to close the period at 10 percent compared to 16 percent last year.

Harare recorded an average hotel room occupancy of 45 percent in the three months ending March 31, 2026, from 48 percent in the same period last year.

Bulawayo also suffered the same fate with hotel room occupancy averaging 36 percent from 37 percent as at the end of the first quarter in 2025.

Meanwhile, tourism investment registered a significant uptick, largely driven by a recent ZTA registration blitz that resulted in the formalisation of previously unregistered tourism facilities.

Consequently, investments into the sector improved by 438 percent to US$67,8 million in the first quarter of this year.

ZTA, as the primary regulatory body mandated by the Tourism Act of 1996 [Chapter 14:20], launched the nationwide blitz during the first quarter to enforce compliance with registration and licencing requirements across the tourism value chain.

The move is aimed at ensuring all players, from accommodation providers to tour operators, are run legally and meeting prescribed standards.

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