Zimbabwe has secured international recognition after winning the Gold Award in the Internet and Media Category at the 2026 Chinese Tourist Welcome (CTW) Awards, presented by the China Outbound Tourism Research Institute.
The accolade acknowledges Zimbabwe’s outstanding destination marketing and digital tourism promotion within the Chinese market, highlighting the country’s expanding international profile and the strengthening relationship between Zimbabwe and China. The award recognises creative campaigns that successfully connected Zimbabwe’s tourism offering with millions of potential Chinese travellers through innovative digital engagement.
Central to the achievement was an ambitious Key Opinion Leader (KOL) programme that partnered with influential Chinese travel content creators to showcase Zimbabwe’s renowned landscapes, wildlife and cultural experiences. Their content reached vast online audiences through popular Chinese social media platforms, including Douyin, WeChat and Xiaohongshu, significantly increasing awareness of Zimbabwe as a premier travel destination.
The campaign was reinforced by the Victoria Falls China High-Speed Rail advertorial initiative, which promoted Zimbabwe’s flagship tourism attraction across China’s extensive high-speed rail network. The campaign introduced hundreds of millions of rail passengers to the country’s natural beauty, transforming daily commutes into opportunities to discover one of Africa’s leading tourism destinations.
The combined initiatives strengthened Zimbabwe’s destination brand in one of the world’s largest outbound tourism markets, encouraging travel interest while demonstrating the growing impact of strategic digital marketing. The recognition also reflects the country’s commitment to expanding its international tourism footprint through innovative partnerships and targeted promotional campaigns.
The award marks another milestone for Zimbabwe’s tourism sector, reinforcing confidence in its ability to compete on the global stage while attracting new visitors and investment through forward-looking marketing strategies.
