Online Reporter
A TOTAL of 61,139 tourists visited the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, marking an increase compared to the same period last year, the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) said.
This represented a rise when compared to 59 718 over the same period last year.
ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo said in a statement that the increase was largely attributed to a noticeable rise in international arrivals, which reached 47,633 in 2025, up from 44,110 in 2024 during the same period.
However, domestic tourism declined, with numbers falling from 15,608 in 2024 to 13,506 this year.
“Key source markets driving international interest in Victoria Falls include Europe, particularly the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Germany, largely due to the availability of dedicated tour packages,” said Farawo, adding that South Africa continues to be the largest source of visitors, followed closely by Botswana.
“Enhanced accessibility through the expansion of Victoria Falls International Airport, along with the introduction of new flight routes, including direct flights from Frankfurt, has further facilitated the growing interest among German tourists.
“The implementation of the KAZA UniVisa, which simplifies cross-border travel between Zimbabwe and Zambia, has also played a role in encouraging visitors to explore both sides of the falls, offering a more seamless travel experience for tourists from many countries.”
Located on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is one of the world’s largest waterfalls, renowned for its rich biodiversity in flora and fauna.
The positive tourism trajectory observed in the first quarter of 2025 underscores the significance of infrastructural development, strategic source market targeting, and policy harmonisation in revitalising regional tourism.
It also points to the resilience of the Southern African tourism sector as it recovers and repositions itself following the disruptions of the past few years. − Xinhua/The Southern African Times
