Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE’s tourism sector continued its post-pandemic recovery in 2024, recording growth in tourist arrivals and earnings, as the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) today held its inaugural Annual General Meeting (AGM), the first since the country’s Independence in 1980.
Tourism receipts increased from US$1,16 billion in 2023 to US$1,18 billion in 2024, while tourist arrivals rose from 1,6 million to 1,61 million over the same period.
The landmark AGM, held in Harare, brought together Government officials, tourism industry leaders and stakeholders to review the authority’s performance, strengthen accountability and chart the sector’s future growth trajectory.
Speaking on behalf of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi, Tourism Permanent Secretary Dr Takaruza Munyanyiwa said the meeting marked a significant milestone in strengthening governance, transparency and stakeholder confidence within the authority.
“The convening of this inaugural AGM is more than a statutory obligation. It reflects the authority’s commitment to sound corporate governance, institutional renewal and responsible leadership,” said Minister Rwodzi.
She said Government had implemented reforms following governance challenges that resulted in the suspension of the previous board and the subsequent appointment of a substantive board and chief executive officer.
ZTA board chairperson Mr Farai Chimba said the tourism sector had remained resilient despite global economic pressures, recording steady growth in key performance indicators.
“Tourist arrivals increased from approximately 1,6 million in 2023 to 1,61 million in 2024, while tourism receipts grew from US$1,16 billion to US$1,18 billion during the same period,” he said.
Mr Chimba said one of the authority’s major achievements was successfully hosting the United Nations Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in Victoria Falls and securing an agreement to establish the Africa International Tourism Academy for Culinary Arts.
“Gastronomy has emerged as one of the most strategic pillars of our tourism offering. It presents opportunities for cultural preservation, local economic empowerment and tourism product diversification,” he said.
ZTA chief executive officer Dr George Manyaya attributed the sector’s growth to the continued recovery of global travel following the Covid-19 pandemic and improvements in tourism infrastructure.
“The period 2023 to 2024 demonstrated strong recovery as we were coming from the Covid era, with renewed traveller confidence and resilient source markets,” he said.
Dr Manyaya noted that international tourist arrivals worldwide reached nearly 1,5 billion in 2024.
He said Government investments in transport infrastructure had also enhanced the country’s competitiveness as a tourism destination.
“The rehabilitation of roads under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme and upgrades at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and Victoria Falls International Airport have enhanced accessibility, which remains one of the critical factors in tourism development,” he said.
Dr Manyaya added that hotel occupancy increased to 48 percent in 2024 from 47 percent in 2023, while domestic tourism recorded four percent growth during the same period.
