Online Reporter
Judith Phiri [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL tourism buyers from Germany and France have been captivated by Zimbabwe’s rich wildlife, breathtaking landscapes and diverse tourism attractions as the country intensifies efforts to position itself as a multi-destination tourism hub.
The buyers travelled from Victoria Falls to Bulawayo on Sunday under the Sanganai tourism programme and are touring several destinations, including Matobo, to experience Zimbabwe’s tourism products first-hand.
They are scheduled to travel from Bulawayo to Masvingo on Tuesday for the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo 2026, which runs from Wednesday to Saturday (9 to 12 September).
The familiarisation tour provided international tourism players with an opportunity to experience the country’s attractions, hospitality and tourism offerings beyond its flagship destination.
In an interview in Bulawayo on Tuesday, German tourism buyer Mr Philipp Därr said they had had a great experience in Zimbabwe so far.
“I am a tour operator from Germany, travelling for the first time to Zimbabwe. I was here when I was a little child, but now I’m coming again as a tour operator and looking to see if I can send tourists to come to Zimbabwe and experience the whole country.
“We have been travelling around Zimbabwe for a week now, looking at all the sites. It was incredible to see the animals roaming freely and to meet all the people who are exceptionally nice and welcoming to us,” he said.
Mr Därr said they were excited to travel to Masvingo for the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo 2026, where they hoped to meet tourism players they could work with.
He said they would engage with local operators on what visitors could expect when they came to Zimbabwe and the experiences available to them.
“We need to understand what the tourism players in the country have to offer, what are the old and new things, what can the people we bring do in terms of activities as well as the safari offerings.”
Ms Beate Gernhuber of SafariScout.com, a German travel agent based near Berlin, said she had always had positive experiences in Zimbabwe.
“It’s not my first time in Zimbabwe and I am very happy to be back to get an update on the service in the country, on the lodges and also on the experiences.
“So I know basically all the sites already from an experience from like 10 years ago, so it’s great to be back again. We have been touring for a week and I have enjoyed basically all of the things we have done so far,” she said.
Ms Gernhuber said Zimbabwe offered a diverse tourism experience, with opportunities ranging from wildlife safaris to cultural and historical attractions.
“Zimbabwe is a very diverse country with lots of different sites. You can do safaris, there is the iconic Victoria Falls, there is lots of culture and history. Like at Matopos, we saw the rock paintings.”
She said they were also looking forward to visiting the Great Zimbabwe ruins once they arrived in Masvingo.
Bongani Ndlovu