At the 2025 Hospitality Summit, officials announced that tourism has become the leading contributor to Zimbabwe’s GDP, surpassing mining and agriculture. This milestone follows international recognition, including Forbes naming Zimbabwe the “best country to visit in 2025.”
Key Summit Highlights:
- Strong Growth: International arrivals grew 9% year-on-year for the first nine months of 2025, with domestic travel surging 20.9%. The sector has generated $922 million in revenue so far this year.
- Strategic Pillars: Tourism Minister Barbra Rwodzi outlined a five-pillar plan for sustaining growth, focusing on digital transformation, sustainability, human capital, infrastructure, and market diversification. She also announced plans to reduce tourism fees by up to 50% to lower business costs.
- Global Spotlight: Industry leaders highlighted Zimbabwe’s elevated global standing, noting the Minister’s election as Vice President of the UN Tourism Regional Commission for Africa.
- Call for Innovation: Stakeholders emphasized that maintaining this top position requires continuous adaptation, innovation, and collaboration to meet evolving global travel trends and consumer behaviors.
The summit framed the current boom as a pivotal moment to solidify Zimbabwe’s reputation as a premier destination through strategic investment and partnership.
