Leonard Ncube


Zimbabwe’s tourism industry has experienced a significant increase in international arrivals, with an impressive 83% growth rate.

The tourism industry remains the fastest growing sector in the economy with an 83 percent increase in arrivals in the first half of this year.

The increase is likely to see a 12 percent jump in accommodation and food this year following the 26,4 percent jump last year, the 2024 Mid-term Budget and Economic Review presented last week showed.

Addressing delegates at the United Nations Tourism first Regional Forum on Gastronomy for Africa in Victoria Falls last Friday, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi, who was hosting the event on behalf of the Government, said the tourism strategy was being driven by President Mnangagwa’s vision for Zimbabwe to attain an upper middle income economy by 2030 or earlier.

The goal of the Second Republic is to expand the tourism and hospitality industry beyond the US$5 billion mark. The tourism industry is set to experience rapid growth in the coming year, thanks to extensive infrastructure developments, particularly in Victoria Falls, where new hotels and lodges have been constructed.

Minister Rwodzi attributed the significant growth in Zimbabwe’s tourism and hospitality industry to the Ministry’s new industry strategy, which places a deliberate and increased focus on the country’s heritage.

This emphasis on people and culture, fauna, flora, geology, landscapes, and the resulting food culture is the primary factor contributing to the country’s competitive advantage.

Minister Rwodzi stated that, in essence, the strategic approach to growing the tourism and hospitality industry in Zimbabwe is heritage-based.

This doctrine is inherently intuitive, as the primary attraction in the tourism and hospitality sector lies in the distinctiveness of various peoples and cultures, as well as the unique flora, fauna, agricultural products, and geological features such as Victoria Falls, which is recognized as a geological marvel. These elements collectively contribute to the culinary experiences we savor, thereby giving rise to gastronomy tourism.

The foundational elements of our Heritage-based tourism strategy are articulated within our innovative framework for the tourism and hospitality industry cluster. This framework represents our distinctive approach to the development and promotion of tourism and hospitality initiatives.

One of the key components of this framework is the culture and heritage cluster, which focuses on the advancement and implementation of gastronomy tourism as a novel and dynamic growth driver within our sector.

In the course of implementing gastronomy tourism in Zimbabwe, communities have begun to experience tangible benefits while actively participating as key players in the value chain, as stated by Minister Rwodzi.