Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
THE United Nations Tourism body is actively engaging major aviation stakeholders to find solutions to mounting disruptions in global travel caused by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and Gulf region.
However, Zimbabwean tour operators remain buoyant, declaring the country the best place to visit in Africa and forecasting a bumper 2026 season as tourists shift away from volatile northern routes.
This was revealed by UN Tourism Regional Director for Africa, Ms Elcia Grandcourt, who was recently in Victoria Falls, where she outlined the severity of the current headwinds.
“Ongoing geopolitical disruptions stemming from conflicts in the Middle East and the Gulf region are already impacting the global tourism sector,” Ms Grandcourt said.
She said the situation remains highly volatile following the escalation of the conflict on 28 February.
“Airspace in key transport hubs, including Dubai and Doha, has been fully or partially closed since the escalation. As a result, thousands of passengers have been stranded, while many travellers have cancelled or altered their travel plans due to the prevailing uncertainty in the region,” she said.
Ms Grandcourt warned that the crisis is not isolated to the Middle East.
“This situation is significantly affecting tourism across the Middle East and the Gulf, with considerable spillover effects on intercontinental travel, particularly on routes connecting Europe with Africa and Asia, for which the region serves as a critical air corridor,” she said.
Despite the uncertainty, she emphasised that UN Tourism is not standing still.
“The organisation is actively engaging key partners, including ICAO, IATA and major airlines, to explore solutions aimed at addressing and mitigating the current disruptions affecting the travel and tourism sectors,” she said.
She reiterated the fundamental importance of peace, safety and security as essential preconditions for sustainable tourism growth, pointing to the International Code for the Protection of Tourists (ICPT) as a vital tool for safeguarding consumer rights during emergencies.
On the home front, Zimbabwe’s tourism industry is striking a defiantly optimistic tone.
Tourism executive Dr Clement Mukwasi acknowledged the immediate challenges but projected strong confidence for the coming year.
“The peak season has started. But for the fact that it has been a bit disturbed by the conflict in the Middle East, so connecting flights and convenience on the movement of the class of the tourists has been affected,” Dr Mukwasi said.
“We think that the number of people coming through will be a bit constricted, but we are buoyant and confident that because we have got the best place to visit in the world in Africa as Zimbabwe, we think that 2026 shall also bring very good fortunes.”
Dr Mukwasi said the country has a strategic advantage in the region.
“Especially because Southern Africa has been very quiet and peaceful, we are going to have a lot of people changing their consumer trends from going to the north of Africa, coming down to the southern part of Africa, and coming to Zimbabwe as well as to Victoria Falls in particular,” he said.
As global travellers seek safer havens and UN Tourism works to unblock disrupted air corridors, Zimbabwe’s private sector is betting heavily that peace and natural attractions will drive increased arrivals.
