ZIMBABWE CEMENTS GLOBAL TOURISM STANDING WITH BACK-TO-BACK ACCOLADES AND RECORD ARRIVALS

Zimbabwe has secured its place among the world’s most compelling travel destinations, capping a run of international recognition with a landmark award at ITB Berlin 2026 that is already translating into measurable growth on the ground.

The country was named Destination of the Year for Natural Wonders at the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association Awards, held on the sidelines of the prestigious ITB Berlin travel trade show. The accolade celebrates Zimbabwe’s exceptional natural assets, from the thundering expanse of Victoria Falls to the granite formations of Matobo Hills, alongside its conservation leadership and reputation for authentic visitor experiences. The recognition reinforces the country’s brand promise as “A World of Natural Wonders” — a positioning built on being unique, uncrowded and unmistakably authentic.

The honour follows closely on the heels of Zimbabwe’s inclusion among Forbes Magazine’s top travel destinations for 2025, a nod that has helped sharpen the country’s profile among discerning international travellers seeking destinations beyond the conventional.

Adding further weight to Zimbabwe’s showing in Berlin, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi was named Tourism Minister of the Year for Africa. The award recognises her transformative leadership within the sector, including the successful hosting of the inaugural UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa in Victoria Falls, which drew delegates from thirty-three countries, as well as the introduction of a twelve-cluster tourism diversification model aligned with Vision 2030. Under her stewardship, tourism has been repositioned beyond wildlife and safari experiences to encompass gastronomy, medical, cultural and adventure tourism.

The twin accolades are not merely symbolic. Zimbabwe welcomed 384,561 international arrivals in the first quarter of 2026, an eleven percent increase on the same period last year, while tourism receipts climbed fourteen percent to reach US$251 million, up from US$221 million in the corresponding quarter of 2025. Africa remains the country’s dominant source market, accounting for roughly three-quarters of all international arrivals, with Mozambique recording the sharpest regional surge.

Domestic tourism has also strengthened considerably, with 2.62 million local trips recorded in the first quarter, reflecting growing appreciation among Zimbabweans for travel within their own borders.

The sector is not without headwinds. Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have disrupted long-haul air routes and pushed up fuel costs, contributing to a twelve percent dip in arrivals in March. Even so, officials say the momentum generated by Zimbabwe’s international recognition, coupled with a strategic pivot towards regional and domestic markets, positions the country to sustain its growth trajectory through the remainder of the year.