Zimbabwe Embraces World Tourism Month
In a nationwide call, the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry invited Zimbabweans to join the global celebration of World Tourism Month during September. The nation, in solidarity with the international community, will commemorate World Tourism Day on September 27th, a significant date established by the United Nations Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in 1980.
The day aims to foster awareness of tourism’s vital contributions to the economy, society, culture, and environment. This year’s celebrations come amidst a resurgence of global tourism, with Zimbabwe also experiencing substantial growth in the 2023/2024 period.
Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbra Rwodzi, highlighted the sector’s remarkable performance: “The first half of the year witnessed a significant surge in international arrivals, increasing by 27% to 751,483 compared to 592,567 in the same period of 2023.” This growth translated into a 24% rise in tourism receipts, reaching US$493 million from US$398 million in the first half of 2023.
Minister Rwodzi emphasized tourism’s pivotal role in Zimbabwe’s economy, accounting for approximately 5.7% of GDP and 3.5% of national employment. She noted that ongoing investments in the sector, coupled with improvements in infrastructure like airports and road networks, are poised to propel Zimbabwe towards its ambitious target of a US$5 billion tourism economy by 2025.
To raise awareness of tourism’s importance, Zimbabwe has designated September as Tourism Month, organizing a series of events culminating in the World Tourism Day celebrations on September 27th. The theme for this year’s World Tourism Day is “Tourism and Peace.”
The month-long festivities kick off on September 1st with the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Bulawayo, attracting both local and international participants. Alongside the expo, various side events will take place, including a MICE Masterclass, a Tourism Investment Forum, a Tourism Scholastic event, and a Gastronomy Hub.
A Tourism Symposium will be held at Lupane State University on September 19th, where experts will discuss tourism’s contributions to national and global peace. Following the symposium, a sports tournament will be organized in Gokwe Kabuyuni Constituency on September 21st to promote sports tourism.
The Tourism Month will conclude with the main World Tourism Day celebrations on September 27th at Gandavaroyi Gorge, a hidden gem in Midlands Province.
The province will host the celebrations on a rotational basis, aligning with the Ministry’s aim of leaving no place or person behind and ensuring equitable distribution of tourism resources and benefits.
Text: Martin Chemhere
