Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE is poised to host three high-level United Nations tourism meetings from April 27 to May 1, underscoring confidence in the country’s political and diplomatic standing in global tourism governance, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.
The three indabas include the 23rd United Nations Tourism Committee on Tourism and Sustainability, the Committee on Tourism and Sustainability-linked Pilot Capacity-Building workshop to be hosted in preparation for the International Year of Resilient and Sustainable Tourism 2027, and the 2nd United Nations Tourism Regional Congress on Women Empowerment in Tourism in Africa.
This comes as the tourism sector has flourished under President Mnangagwa’s administration with deliberate policies that have repositioned Zimbabwe as a premier global tourist destination and a key pillar of the national economy, allowing both local and foreign investment and many new jobs.
Over the past five years, tourism has boomed, with the country being named the 2025 world best destination to visit by Forbes magazine, a renowned global publication.
The tourism sector continues to defy global headwinds, recording over 1,6 million international tourist arrivals in 2024 and generating US$1,2 billion in receipts and US$190,5 million in investments, according to a Government ministry report released in September, the figures are expected to climb higher this year.
In his address, Minister Soda said hosting these meetings represents a strategic milestone for Zimbabwe in the journey towards hosting the International Year of Resilient and Sustainable Tourism in 2027, an honour that reinforces the nation’s political and diplomatic stature.
“Cabinet also received and approved a Report on the hosting of the forthcoming United Nations tourism high-level meetings in Zimbabwe as presented by the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
“Cabinet advises that Zimbabwe will host major United Nations Tourism events scheduled to run back-to-back at the Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls from April 27 to May 1. The mega events will position the country as a top leader in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE Tourism) while the participation of global tourism leaders, policymakers, development partners, sustainability experts and academia will reinforce Zimbabwe’s commitment to sustainable and resilient tourism development practices through alignment with the United Nations Agenda on Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063,” he said.
Responding to a question posed by The Herald, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi expressed Zimbabwe’s readiness to host the High-Level events.
“We are more than prepared, as you know, that we have been, probably for the past three or four years, hosting these big events in the country, particularly in Victoria Falls and Harare.
“Simply because Victoria Falls has become a brand for Africa in hosting MICE tourism . . . it’s a strategy that we are deliberately bidding for these events to come to our country so that we address the softer issues, diplomatic issues, through tourism,” she said.
Hosting the events in Zimbabwe, Minister Rwodzi said, demonstrated the UN’s political and diplomatic confidence in the country.
“Let me say the coming in of United Nations Tourism to Zimbabwe just to accept the bid for Zimbabwe to host these three events is an endorsement of not just our country but also Zimbabwe as a destination.
“We know very well that our country is still under sanctions, by the way (but) other people think we are no longer under sanctions because of high activities, economical activities and social activities that are happening in our country through tourism and other disciplines of the Government.
“So just for United Nations to choose Zimbabwe to host these very important three events is a huge endorsement politically and also diplomatically,” she said.
