Zimbabwe and Spain are moving to deepen bilateral tourism cooperation, with Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi pressing for the immediate signing of a newly concluded Tourism Memorandum of Understanding that could reshape reciprocal travel flows between the two countries.
The push came during a courtesy call by Spanish Ambassador to Zimbabwe Lourdes Sangroniz on Rwodzi, where both sides reaffirmed a partnership that has positioned Spain among Zimbabwe’s top three international tourism source markets.
Sangroniz commended Zimbabwe’s performance in the tourism sector, pointing to the country’s product diversification strategy and singling out the KAZA UniVisa as a critical tool for regional integration and seamless destination development. She also praised the gastronomy tourism initiative championed by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, describing it as a driver of sustainable growth.
Rwodzi told the ambassador that tourism remains a central pillar of Zimbabwe’s economy, anchored in the National Development Strategy 2. She argued that swift finalisation of the MoU would strengthen destination marketing, expand reciprocal tourist arrivals through joint tour operator partnerships, boost technical cooperation, and attract fresh capital into infrastructure projects.
Behind the diplomatic overtures lies a broader strategy. The Ministry is rolling out a clustered tourism model aimed at diversifying Zimbabwe’s global image beyond its traditional wildlife and nature draw, with sports, religious and culinary tourism now positioned as growth frontiers. Gastronomy in particular has become a tool of soft diplomacy, with Zimbabwe recently completing a benchmark study visit to Spain’s Basque Culinary Center to inform plans for the forthcoming Africa International Academy for Culinary Arts.
Rwodzi capped the meeting by inviting Spain to take part in the Sanganayi/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe World Tourism Expo, set for Masvingo from 9 to 12 September 2026.
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