Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe
Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Zimbabwe Tourism Authority says the planned Tourism Investment Forum to be held during the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo next month will offer players an opportunity to gain insights into crafting bankable projects and interact with investors and unlock new investment opportunities in the sector.
The forum, scheduled for September 10, will be held during the 19th edition of the country’s premier tourism trade fair.
The event runs from September 9 to 12 at the Gymkhana Tourism Park in Masvingo.
The expo is expected to bring together international buyers, tourism operators, investors and other industry stakeholders, providing a platform for local businesses to showcase opportunities within Masvingo’s tourism value chain.
Tourism is a vital economic pillar for Zimbabwe, contributing significantly to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), foreign currency earnings and employment.
The sector accounts for roughly 5 to 12 percent of total GDP.
Tourism serves as a top-tier service sector in Zimbabwe alongside mining and agriculture, targeted heavily under national development strategies to achieve upper-middle-income status.
Zimbabwe’s tourism growth strategy is anchored by the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Policy 2025–2030, which targets heritage-based tourism, product diversification and sustainability to support national Vision 2030 goals.
Current targets for 2026 include achieving US$1,36 billion in tourism receipts, 1,87 million international arrivals, 15,7 million domestic trips and US$196 million in sector investments.
Speaking during a stakeholder webinar held on Wednesday under the theme, “Unlocking Opportunities for Growth: Explore key investment prospects driving expansion across the sector”, a ZTA representative said the investment forum would focus on converting tourism opportunities into investor-ready projects.
The objectives include packaging tourism projects into bankable opportunities, showcasing Zimbabwe’s emerging tourism investment prospects, facilitating networking and strategic partnerships, linking tourism businesses with potential financiers and investors, and identifying priority actions and follow-up mechanisms for selected projects.
“The forum responds to Zimbabwe’s current under-investment in accommodation, conferencing facilities, entertainment and theme parks which are all critical to the competitiveness of destination Zimbabwe,” she said.
“Tourism is identified as a key pillar for economic growth in Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030, with the sector targeting a US$10 billion tourism economy by 2030.
“Zimbabwe is witnessing renewed and growing interest from both local and foreign investors looking to tap into the country’s tourism investment opportunities,” she added.
The forum comes at a time when the Government is seeking to deepen private-sector participation in tourism infrastructure and expand the country’s capacity to accommodate rising tourist arrivals and business events.
According to ZTA, the forum is expected to attract ministers, tourism and hospitality industry associations, aviation, transport and infrastructure stakeholders, revenue, trade and investment agencies, property developers, investors and corporates.
Embassies, diplomats, development partners, local authorities, public sector institutions, business chambers, capital markets, financial institutions, pension funds, insurers, social security funds, as well as environment, conservation and heritage officials are also expected to participate.
The investment drive is particularly significant for Masvingo, where stakeholders see scope for expansion in accommodation, tourism activities, transport and other supporting infrastructure.
During the webinar, stakeholders heard that there is growing enthusiasm among Masvingo residents and tourism players ahead of the hosting of Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe, with local businesses seeking to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the international showcase.
A ZTA representative said the excitement had spread beyond tourism operators to the wider community, with residents keen to contribute to the success of the event and benefit from its economic spin-offs.
“Everyone is very excited from the general public to tourism players and they wish it could be held over a longer period. This goes to show how excited everyone is.
“There are a lot of people in Masvingo who want to be involved, how their efforts can contribute to the bigger success of the event,” said the ZTA representative.
The heightened interest has also brought into focus investment gaps that could be addressed through increased private-sector participation.
“The issue of accommodation, be it a resort or lakeside accommodation, those are part of the opportunities available. The tourism sector in Masvingo is growing; there is a need for those areas to be further developed,” added the ZTA representative.
The forum is therefore expected to go beyond networking by connecting prospective projects with financiers and investors and providing a platform for stakeholders to identify practical interventions that can accelerate tourism development.
Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo is Zimbabwe’s flagship international tourism trade fair, organised annually by the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and ZTA.
Preparations for this year’s edition are also gathering pace.
Early this week, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi, Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira and other stakeholders toured the Gymkhana Tourism Park, Masvingo Airport and the Great Zimbabwe Visitor Centre to assess infrastructure development and preparations for the expo.
Works at the Gymkhana Tourism Park, which will host the expo, are now about 80 percent complete, with the facility expected to enhance Masvingo’s capacity to host major tourism, business and events activities.
The investment forum presents an opportunity to leverage the international exposure generated by Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe to attract capital into Masvingo’s tourism infrastructure and position the province as a competitive investment destination.
