ED urges tourism sector to embrace AI
TAFADZWA CHINYANGANYA
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged Zimbabwe’s tourism industry to embrace artificial intelligence and digital technologies to raise the visibility of destination Zimbabwe and deliver smarter, more sustainable visitor experiences.
Opening the 19th Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Masvingo yesterday, Mnangagwa said technology could transform destination management by helping authorities manage visitor flows, forecast demand, reduce overcrowding and strengthen environmental monitoring.
The expo runs until Saturday and has attracted close to 400 companies from 15 countries.
“The deployment of Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies has immense potential to redesign tourism beyond policy and governance or operational efficiency, to enable smarter destination management,” Mnangagwa said.
“It can positively impact tourist experiences, while also promoting sustainable, inclusive and efficient travel.
“As we look into a future driven by Artificial Intelligence and digital technologies, I challenge the Zimbabwe tourism industry to embrace innovation and AI, to increase the visibility of Destination Zimbabwe.”
Mnangagwa said government departments needed to do more to harness technology to make tourism safer, more convenient and responsive to changing demand.
“More must be done by the various government divisions to manage visitor flows, forecast demand, reduce overcrowding, and support environmental monitoring to make tourism safer and more convenient,” he said.
However, he cautioned against allowing technology to erode the human element of Zimbabwean tourism.
“In all tech-driven endeavours, the use of Artificial Intelligence and digital platforms should take into account the human face and our unique Zimbabwean as well as African culture,” he said.
“Digital tools should complement human roles, rather than replace them.”
The President said the tourism sector was showing sustained growth and resilience, supported by the government’s National Development Strategy 2 and Vision 2030 agenda.
“Models for tourism development must, therefore, continue on this transformative trajectory with tangible benefits, which help lift more people into a higher quality of life,” he said.
“Despite the various global realities, Zimbabwe is consolidating its position as one of the best and must-visit tourist destinations.”
Investor confidence in the sector has also strengthened sharply, with tourism investment surging 229% to US$132.3m in the first half of 2026, from US$40.2m during the same period last year.
“Investor confidence remains high, as reflected by tourism investment which rose by 229% to US$132.3m in the first half of 2026 compared to US$40.2m in the same period in 2025,” Mnangagwa said.
Domestic tourism has also expanded, with the number of local visitors rising to 6.4m in the first half of 2026, from five million during the corresponding period last year.
Mnangagwa said the expansion of tourism was generating spillover benefits for the creative and cultural industries, which contributed 8.8% to GDP.
Hosting Sanganai/Hlanganani in Masvingo forms part of the government’s devolution drive, aimed at spreading tourism benefits beyond traditional centres and increasing the visibility of provincial destinations.
The government has undertaken infrastructure improvements ahead of the expo, including the refurbishment of Masvingo Airport, construction of a restaurant, offices and ablution facilities, development of sports fields and upgrades to the surrounding road network.
The expo is also hosting 153 buyers, comprising 125 international and 28 local buyers. International delegates have been drawn from key tourism source markets including China, India, Japan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United Arab Emirates and several African markets.
Organisers have expanded the programme beyond the traditional exhibition format, with events designed to showcase Zimbabwe’s tourism, hospitality, cultural and creative industries.
These include the September Sports Tourism Carnival, Gastronomy and Music Show Carnival, gastronomy and events-planning masterclasses, a chief executives’ roundtable, Tourism Investment Forum, Scholastica Conference, buyer sessions and the Sanganai Awards Ceremony.
The expo is expected to provide Zimbabwean tourism operators with opportunities to forge commercial partnerships, market their products, attract visitors and secure fresh investment.
The participation of international buyers is also expected to strengthen links with global tourism markets and deepen the country’s integration into international travel networks.
