Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with UN Tourism to position the country as a leading global travel destination, with President Mnangagwa saying continued collaboration will help showcase the nation’s natural beauty, rich endowments and renowned hospitality to the world.
The President made the remarks in a post on X shortly after meeting the visiting United Nations Tourism Secretary General, Ms Shaikha Al Nowais, at his Munhumutapa offices in Harare. Ms Al Nowais is on her first official visit to Zimbabwe since assuming office and is leading a high level UN Tourism delegation focused on advancing sustainable and inclusive tourism development.
Ms Al Nowais, who is the first woman to head the organisation since its establishment in 1975, arrived in the country on Sunday through Victoria Falls. She is scheduled to hold a series of strategic engagements in the resort city, aimed at strengthening co-operation and promoting sustainability within the tourism sector.
“It was an honour to welcome Ms Shaikha Al Nowais, the recently appointed Secretary-General of UN Tourism, this afternoon. Her appointment marks a significant milestone as she becomes the first woman to helm the organisation in its 50-year history.
“We discussed enhancing Zimbabwe’s standing as a premier global destination and harnessing sustainable tourism as a catalyst for economic growth and job creation. Zimbabwe remains committed to collaborating closely with UN Tourism to showcase the beauty and hospitality of our nation to the world,” said President Mnangagwa.
Speaking in an interview shortly after the meeting, Ms Al Nowais commended Zimbabwe’s efforts to revitalise its tourism industry, saying the results were already visible through increased visitor numbers and revenue growth. She praised the leadership of President Mnangagwa and his administration, noting the country was firmly on course to achieve its national tourism development objectives.
“Look, I think Zimbabwe has come a long way with the leadership of the President and with the Honourable Minister executing and having a plan in place. I think they are on the right path. They have done a lot over the years. They have witnessed a growth of 10 percent of tourism arrivals only in 2025, which is a testament to the plan they have and the vision they have for tourism in Zimbabwe,” said Ms Nowais.
Reflecting on her discussions with the President, she said he underscored the central role of tourism in driving Zimbabwe’s economy.
“The President said that tourism is a driver, a key driver for the national economy of Zimbabwe. His belief in tourism is instrumental in what we see today for Zimbabwe,” she said.
Ms Al Nowais said her visit to Zimbabwe formed part of a broader programme to familiarise herself with the tourism ecosystems of UN Tourism member states.
“It is my first time to be in Zimbabwe, yes, but it will not be my last, that’s for sure. I will be visiting other countries. We have 161 member states from five different regions, so I have to visit as many as I can,” said Ms Nowais, adding that she would be returning to Victoria Falls for further meetings.
She also spoke about the responsibilities of her new role, saying she approached it with humility and determination.
“It is not an easy job, but I feel that where there is a will, there is a way and when you are dedicated and committed to something, anything is possible,” she said.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Barbara Rwodzi, said a programme of engagement had been arranged for the UN Tourism Secretary General with key stakeholders in the sector.
“Today (yesterday), this morning, the Secretary-General opened a committee on Sustainable Tourism, which is an existing committee in the UN tourism and it was an important meeting. It speaks more about sustaining and resilience in tourism, but one big highlight for us as a country is that today UN Tourism Secretary General unveiled the logo for the next year UN General Assembly 2027, which speaks to tourism resilience and sustainability, and the logo was unveiled here in Zimbabwe to the world, for the first time was in Victoria Falls.
“We are very proud of that and it speaks volumes about our destination; it also speaks volumes about the relationship between the Government of Zimbabwe through our President, Dr ED Mnangagwa, and the United Nations Tourism, so it is an endorsement of a destination. We are very excited and very grateful to UN tourism,” said Minister Rwodzi.
Zimbabwe’s tourism sector is experiencing a strong recovery, with more than 1,6 million international tourist arrivals recorded in 2024, generating approximately US$1,2 billion in revenue. Growth has been driven by major infrastructure developments, including the expansion of Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, alongside increased investment, which rose by 11 percent to US$190 million in 2024.
The industry has steadily rebounded from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and remains one of the four key pillars of the economy, alongside agriculture, manufacturing and mining. Its contribution to Gross Domestic Product is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.
To support this trajectory, President Mnangagwa has launched a comprehensive Tourism Policy, while Parliament has passed the Tourism Amendment Act, measures designed to position tourism as a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s economic transformation.
