IATA has reported that global passenger demand rose 6.6% year-on-year in October 2025. Africa outpaced the average, with carriers posting an 8.8% increase in RPKs and an 8.3% rise in capacity; the region’s load factor reached 73.9% – still the lowest globally – but improved by 0.3 percentage points.
On international routes, African airlines recorded 7.3% demand growth against a 5.3% capacity increase, lifting load factor to 74.1% (+1.4 ppt). IATA described October as a strong month for air travel and signalled further capacity growth into November and December, indicating solid holiday traffic, while globally the load factor was 84.6% and Asia–Pacific and the Middle East led regional gains.
Viceroy Hotels, an international luxury hotel group, has made its debut in the African safari sector by acquiring three high-end lodges in Zambia and Botswana. The properties, now managed by African Bush Camps, will operate under the “A Viceroy Resort” branding.
The newly acquired lodges are:
Thorntree River Lodge (Zambia): Located in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park on the Zambezi River, providing easy access to Victoria Falls.
Lolebezi (Zambia): A secluded riverfront retreat in the Lower Zambezi National Park.
Atzaró Okavango Camp (Botswana): Situated in the heart of the Okavango Delta.
Each property features contemporary luxury design, private plunge pools, and a suite of premium amenities like spas and swimming pools. Activities are tailored to their unique settings, ranging from rhino tracking and river cruises in Zambia to traditional mokoro excursions and safari drives in the Delta. This strategic move signals Viceroy’s expansion into high-end, experiential nature travel in Southern Africa.
The Zimbabwean government has announced a comprehensive overhaul of its national Tourism Master Plan, aiming to unlock new investment corridors and guide the sector towards more coordinated and sustainable growth. This initiative is a key part of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2), with the goal of boosting tourism’s contribution to GDP, job creation, and foreign currency earnings as the country works towards its Vision 2030.
The updated plan will be developed in collaboration with the private sector and local communities, focusing on incorporating emerging tourism zones, product diversification, and community participation. Key priorities include:
Policy & Investment: Reviewing the National Tourism Policy, improving the ease of doing business, and providing targeted incentives to attract investment.
Infrastructure: Channeling investments into rehabilitating and modernizing critical tourism-supporting infrastructure like roads, airports, and ports of entry.
Marketing & Development: Scaling up international marketing of the “Experience Zimbabwe” brand, promoting heritage-based tourism, and developing new niches like adventure and agri-tourism.
Domestic Tourism: Amending legislation to rationalize pricing, making tourism more affordable for locals, who currently contribute 75% of the sector’s income.
Industry operators have welcomed the move, stating that a modernized, data-driven master plan will provide much-needed clarity for investors, address infrastructure gaps, and enhance Zimbabwe’s global competitiveness.
The Zimbabwean government has announced a key policy extension to boost its safari tourism sector. In the 2026 National Budget, Finance Minister Mithuli Ncube confirmed that the duty-free importation of vehicles for safari operators and tour companies will be extended for two years, effective January 1, 2026.
Purpose and Impact:
The measure is designed to attract investment and modernize safari fleets, allowing operators to import specialized vehicles and buses without standard import duties.
This aims to enhance service quality, improve Zimbabwe’s competitiveness as a world-class safari destination, and support the growing demand from international tourists.
The policy is part of a broader package of government incentives for tourism, including tax holidays and benefits in designated Tourism Development Zones.
Context:
The extension underscores the government’s recognition of tourism as a vital economic pillar, with the sector projected to grow by 2.9% in 2025 and 3.1% in 2026.
It aligns with efforts to capitalize on Zimbabwe’s global recognition, such as being named Forbes’ top destination for 2025, and to strengthen sustainable and eco-tourism offerings.
This fiscal incentive is intended to drive infrastructure investment, stimulate economic growth, and solidify Zimbabwe’s position as a leading safari destination in Africa.
Regional airline Airlink is moving to strengthen its leading position in Zimbabwe’s domestic and regional aviation market, capitalizing on soaring travel demand driven by the country’s recent global recognition. Zimbabwe’s designation by Forbes Magazine as the “world’s best country to visit in 2025” has already resulted in increased traffic on Airlink’s routes, with a notable surge in inbound tourists from Europe and the United States.
Airlink officials noted that Zimbabwe represents one of its strongest regional markets, with the airline operating six to seven daily flights into Harare to meet the extensive demand. This growth is supported by Zimbabwe’s robust tourism performance in 2024, which saw over 1.6 million international arrivals generating approximately $1.2 billion in receipts.
The airline is leveraging strategic partnerships, such as its sponsorship of the Africa Golf Club Business Wednesday event, to deepen its business networks and solidify its market presence amid the country’s rising appeal as a premium destination anchored by its UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Marriott International has entered the DRC with the opening of Protea Hotel by Marriott Kinshasa and Four Points by Sheraton Kinshasa.
Protea Hotel by Marriott Kinshasa
Located in an upscale neighbourhood near the Congo River, the hotel offers 88 guest rooms – many with balconies. Facilities include an atrium lobby with natural light and local artwork, an indoor pool, the Marché 15 all-day restaurant, a lobby bar, a fitness centre and meeting room.
Four Points by Sheraton Kinshasa
Situated in the central business district, the hotel offers 134 rooms with the brand’s Four Comfort Bed, Wi-Fi and breakfast options. Amenities include Lufira Restaurant, the 83 Sky Lounge Bar, a rooftop pool, a 24-hour fitness centre and a meeting space across four rooms.
The Zimbabwean government has enacted a major regulatory overhaul to boost the tourism sector, significantly reducing licensing costs and consolidating permits under a single regulator. The reforms, announced by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, are designed to lower the cost of doing business and attract investment.
Key changes include:
Appointing the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) as the primary regulator.
Cutting all local authority license fees by 50%.
Reducing hotel registration fees, with five-star hotel renewals dropping from $5,250 to $2,000.
Slashing the general investment license from $5,000 per year to $4,000 for three years.
Dramatically reducing special economic zone certificate fees from $50,000 to $2,500.
Halving costs for game drive and boat cruise permits.
Eliminating duplicate requirements like a separate tourism liquor license.
The government cites these structural reforms—alongside tax incentives, infrastructure upgrades, and digitalization—as critical to making Zimbabwe a more competitive and predictable destination for tourism investment, supporting its goal of economic growth and job creation.
Tourism Minister Barbara Rwodzi officiated at The Safari Show, underscoring the safari industry as the cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s tourism economy. She emphasized that the Nature and Wildlife Cluster, driven by safari, contributes nearly 80% of the country’s tourism revenue and is pivotal to Zimbabwe being named Forbes’ #1 Must-Visit Destination for 2025. The event successfully united the entire safari value chain to foster collaboration and innovation.
Rwodzi highlighted the sector’s resilience, citing growing international arrivals, and reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s commitment to sustainable tourism as a UN Tourism committee member. She noted continued government support through policy enablers and a “Whole-of-Government Approach” to enhance competitiveness and conservation-led growth.
Key Takeaways:
Safari is Zimbabwe’s dominant tourism economic driver (80% share).
The industry’s strength directly contributed to the country’s top global destination ranking.
The government is prioritizing sustainable development and policy support to maintain growth.
Emirates and World Rugby have announced a landmark ten-year extension of their partnership, securing the airline’s status as a top-tier sponsor of global rugby through 2035. This renewal elevates the 17-year collaboration into one of the sport’s most enduring and significant commercial alliances, with Emirates becoming World Rugby’s inaugural Platinum Partner.
Comprehensive Sponsorship Scope: Under the new agreement, Emirates will serve as the Principal Partner for the next four Rugby World Cup cycles, encompassing the Men’s tournaments in Australia (2027) and the USA (2031), and the Women’s tournaments in Australia (2029) and the USA (2033), plus the 2035 Men’s Rugby World Cup. The airline will also sponsor all qualifying rounds.
Brand Integration and Visibility: The partnership ensures extensive global visibility for Emirates:
Official Branding: Continued pitch-side branding and logo placement across World Rugby’s digital and promotional channels.
Match Officials: Referees at all major international matches—including the Six Nations, Rugby Championship, and British & Irish Lions Tours—will be titled “Emirates World Rugby Match Officials” and wear Emirates-branded kits.
Broadcast Presence: The Emirates logo will be featured prominently within Television Match Official (TMO) booths during all World Cup events.
Commitment to Growth and Community: Both organizations emphasized a shared vision to grow rugby globally. The partnership will expand to include collaborative grassroots development and community engagement programs, reinforcing a commitment to advancing women’s rugby and inspiring the next generation of athletes.
A Legacy Partnership: Emirates’ involvement in rugby dates back to 1987, making it the airline’s longest-running sports sponsorship. The airline’s portfolio also includes partnerships with European club rugby, premier Sevens tournaments, and ownership of The Sevens Stadium in Dubai, highlighting a multifaceted, decades-long investment in the sport at every level.
A United Arab Emirates-based investment firm, ASB Hospitality, has finalized a $30 million deal to acquire the dormant Kingdom Hotel in Victoria Falls, marking its second major foray into Zimbabwe’s hospitality sector after purchasing Harare’s Meikles Hotel in 2020. The 294-room property, inspired by the architecture of Great Zimbabwe and located minutes from the waterfall, has been closed since early 2023 due to a lease dispute.
The transaction involves the purchase of Makasa Sun (Pvt) Limited, the hotel’s owner, from First Capital Bank and its pension fund. The deal includes a $3 million escrow deposit, with the remaining $27 million payable upon regulatory approval from Zimbabwean authorities.
This investment aligns with the strong recovery of Zimbabwe’s tourism industry, which recorded 1.6 million international arrivals and $1.18 billion in revenue in 2024. It also reflects deepening economic ties between Zimbabwe and the UAE, signaling growing confidence from international investors in the country’s tourism infrastructure and long-term growth potential. The hotel is expected to reopen under a new international brand following the completion of the acquisition.
