President Emmerson Mnangagwa has challenged Zimbabwe’s tourism industry to embrace artificial intelligence and digital technologies to improve destination management, enhance visitor experiences and boost the global visibility of Destination Zimbabwe.
Addressing delegates at the official opening of the 19th Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo in Masvingo, Mnangagwa said this year’s theme, “Digital and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism,” was timely and required the sector to seriously rethink the role of technology in the industry.
He said artificial intelligence had the potential to transform tourism operations while supporting smarter destination management and more sustainable travel.
“The deployment of artificial intelligence and digital technologies has immense potential to transform tourism and governance for operational efficiency, and to enable smarter destination management,” Mnangagwa said.
He added that digital technologies could improve tourist experiences while helping destinations manage visitor flows, forecast demand, reduce overcrowding and strengthen environmental monitoring.
Mnangagwa urged tourism operators to harness emerging technologies to increase the visibility and competitiveness of Destination Zimbabwe in international markets.
“As we look into a future driven by artificial intelligence and digital technologies, I challenge the Zimbabwe tourism industry to embrace innovation to increase the visibility of Destination Zimbabwe,” he said.
However, the President cautioned that technological advancement should not come at the expense of Zimbabwe’s human touch, cultural identity and hospitality, stressing that technology must complement rather than replace the people working within the tourism industry.
“In all tech-driven endeavours, the use of artificial intelligence and digital platforms should take into account the human face and our unique Zimbabwean cultural intelligence,” he said. “Digital tools should complement human roles rather than replace them.”
Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s tourism competitiveness rested not only on its wildlife and natural attractions but also on its history, culture, indigenous knowledge systems, music, arts, heritage and the hospitality of its people.
He said anchoring the 2026 expo around the Great Zimbabwe monuments was a deliberate move to reposition the country’s heritage as a major tourism asset, describing the site as evidence of the ingenuity and sophistication of Zimbabwe’s forefathers and a powerful narrative for promoting tourism internationally.
He said the country should combine its historical and cultural assets with technology to craft new tourism experiences and widen its international appeal.
The President also tied technological innovation in tourism to the broader national development agenda, saying citizens should continue to benefit from innovation-led economic growth underpinned by stable and predictable government policies. He challenged tourism operators to develop innovative products and experiences capable of delivering tangible benefits to communities and improving livelihoods.
Mnangagwa’s call comes as Zimbabwe seeks to diversify its tourism offerings and draw visitors to destinations beyond Victoria Falls, with Sanganai/Hlanganani serving as a platform to expose international buyers to attractions across the country.
The 2026 expo presents an opportunity for the tourism industry to fuse Zimbabwe’s heritage, culture and hospitality with digital innovation to build a more competitive and inclusive tourism economy.
