Zim champions tourism growth, connectivity at UN Summit

During the engagement, Minister Rwodzi apologised for inconveniences encountered by the delegation after a misunderstanding with the police over traffic regulations. She said it was Government’s position that tourists should enjoy seamless and disturbance-free experiences while in the country.

Ivan Zhakata

Herald Correspondent

Zimbabwe is stepping up efforts to boost tourism resilience, regional connectivity and investment across Africa, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi has said.

She was speaking at the second UN Tourism Summit for Africa and the Americas underway in Livingstone, Zambia.

The summit, running under the theme “Advancing Resilient Tourism through Connectivity, Investment and Skilled Workforce Development”, brought together tourism ministers, government officials, industry leaders and experts from across Africa and the Americas.

Minister Rwodzi said Zimbabwe was committed to economic transformation through tourism.

“Zimbabwe is steadfast in its pursuit of upper-middle-income status by 2030 and tourism is a critical pillar in this national strategy,” she said.

The Minister hailed the country’s recent advancements in air connectivity under President Mnangagwa’s leadership, citing the refurbishment and expansion of Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo and Victoria Falls International Airports.

“Victoria Falls International Airport has become a vital aviation hub within the Kavango-Zambezi (KAZA) region, now capable of accommodating wide-bodied aircraft to serve not just Zimbabwe but the entire region.”

Minister Rwodzi also spoke about Africa’s ongoing air connectivity challenges and called for urgent action.

“Poor intra-African air connectivity is a critical barrier we must dismantle,” she said.

“We urge governments to make deliberate investments in strengthening national airlines to prioritise and ease regional travel.”

With climate change affecting agriculture and volatile global metal prices impacting mining revenues, the Minister said tourism holds the potential to become Africa’s leading economic sector.

“Tourism is the next frontier for sustainable growth across our continent,” she said.

Minister Rwodzi said there were investments in MICE facilities, industry skills training, improved visa regimes and infrastructure development.

She told the meeting that Zimbabwe’s visa liberalisation would be tackled carefully.

“We advocate for reciprocity in visa policies. Open borders must be mutual and beneficial.”

On the sidelines of the summit, Minister Rwodzi met with UN Tourism Secretary-General Mr Zurab Pololikashvili to discuss collaborative projects, including progress on the African International Academy for Culinary Arts — a Zimbabwe-UN Tourism partnership spearheaded under the patronage of the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa.