The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry has called for bold innovation, resilience, and deeper public-private collaboration to future-proof Zimbabwe’s tourism sector as the country strengthens its position among the world’s most competitive destinations. Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Hon. Barbara Rwodzi (MP), the Permanent Secretary, Dr Takaruza Munyanyiwa, emphasized the need for transformation as he officially represented the minister at the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Summit and Annual General Meeting held from 19 to 20 November in Harare.
Although the minister could not attend the event, she reaffirmed her commitment to the sector through the speech read by Dr Munyanyiwa, anchored on the theme, “Future-Proofing Zimbabwe’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Building Resilience, Innovation and Inclusive Growth.”
The summit brought together hoteliers, lodge operators, restaurateurs, regulators, financiers, academic institutions and government representatives for two days of strategic engagement hosted across Monomotapa Hotel, Cresta Lodge and Hyatt Regency Harare – The Meikles.
In her address, Hon. Rwodzi praised the sector for its resilience and strong contribution to national development, highlighting that tourism had become the leading contributor to Zimbabwe’s GDP in 2025, surpassing mining and agriculture.
She also celebrated Zimbabwe’s recognition by Forbes magazine as the Best Country to Visit in 2025, describing it as a well-deserved honour earned through the hard work and consistency of tourism operators.
Tourism performance indicators for 2025 reflect continued growth. International arrivals increased by 9% from January to September compared to the same period in 2024, while domestic tourism rose by 20.9%. Sector revenue reached USD$922 million, marking a 10% increase from last year’s USD$839 million.
Hon. Rwodzi also highlighted five pivotal pillars for future-proofing Zimbabwe’s tourism: digital transformation through data-driven systems and immersive technologies; sustainable and climate-resilient tourism that protects natural and cultural heritage while uplifting communities; human capital development supported by strong partnerships with academia; improved infrastructure and connectivity for transport, power and digital networks; and branding and market diversification to promote Zimbabwe’s culture, cuisine, music and hospitality globally.
She further noted ongoing government efforts to support the sector, including reducing tourism fees by up to 50% to boost competitiveness and expanding domestic tourism through the ZimBho campaign. Dr Munyanyiwa encouraged HAZ members to sustain the sector’s momentum through innovation, unity and exceptional service delivery, emphasising that the potential is vast and the time for transformation is now. He then officially opened the 2025 HAZ Leadership Summit and AGM on behalf of Minister Rwodzi.
The event ended with focused breakaway sessions on sustainable tourism, industry-academia collaboration and financing models, followed by a vibrant African-themed dinner at Hyatt Regency Harare.