Tourism in 2023: A year of significant rebound
TANATSWA KANDENGA
The tourism industry in Zimbabwe had a spectacular comeback in 2023, and it is predicted that this trend will continue into next year driven by increased domestic, foreign, and regional travellers.
Official data indicates that from January to September this year, there was a 52% increase in tourist arrivals, totalling 1,08m from 714, 621 reported in the prior comparative period.
It comes after the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 brought tourism to a near standstill with international arrivals falling as a result of travel restrictions enforced by governments across the globe.
The tourism industry is being helped by the recovery in international travel as well as the increased accessibility of destinations made possible by upgraded infrastructure, which has allowed new airlines to operate.
In an effort to promote the destination, the Government of Zimbabwe will be hosting four significant events: the International Conference on Aids and STIs in Africa (ICASA) , the United Nations Economic Commission for African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development from February 28–March 5, 2024; and the SADC Summit in 2024.
Treasury will provide ZWL$71 billion in support for the travel and tourism sector.
‘’To support the operations of the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, an amount of ZWL$71bn has been allocated to spearhead tourism development in the country , as well as marketing of the country as a destination of choice,” Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube said.
According to Professor Ncube, the development of the tourism industry will depend on initiatives to enhance the domestic tourist brand and image by giving destination marketers the tools and resources they need to create and carry out the best plans for enhancing the destination’s favourable reputation.
According to the 2024 National budget , the tourism sector is set to benefit from US$1m allocated towards the renovations and rehabilitation of Great Zimbabwe , comprehensive Tourism Assessment and strategy implementation Framework , as well as development of Protected area Management Plans for national parks.
The increase in private sector tourism investment indicates that the private sector is supporting government efforts to grow the tourism industry. The opening of the Bulawayo Sterling Hotel and the renovation and refurbishment of Hwange Safari Lodge are two notable examples of private sector investments.
Wengayi Nhau, the president of the Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe said: ‘’We are in early recovery mode from Covid- 19 . We are yet to suppress the 2019 figures, only if we have suppressed the 2019 figures, then as the tourism sector we can say we are starting to grow.”
Nhau added: “We anticipate filling 80–90% of the capacity because the holidays in 2023 will mark the first festive season since the COVID 19 restrictions have been completely lifted, which will greatly aid the industry’s recovery.”
The latest global tourism barometer indicates that Zimbabwe is growing and that the industry is still recovering from the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. These findings have been confirmed by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
