By Sharon Chimenya
MASVINGO — The tourism sector has firmly established itself as a driving force behind the country’s economic transformation, successfully attracting over US$1 billion in investment under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and underscoring its pivotal role in national progress.
Addressing delegates at the Tourism Investment Forum on Thursday at the Gymkhana Conference Centre, Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, highlighted the sector’s remarkable resilience in overcoming the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He noted that the industry is now on a robust path of recovery and growth, having attracted US$1 billion in investment between 2021 and 2025.
“Zimbabwe’s economy grew by 8.3 percent in 2025, while foreign direct investment increased from US$597 million in 2024 to US$965 million in 2025. The tourism sector alone attracted more than US$1 billion in investments during the NDS1 2021–2025 period, and the momentum is continuing,” he said.
“As such, tourism investment increased from approximately US$190.5 million in 2024 to US$194.5 million in 2025, and in the first half of 2026 alone, Zimbabwe recorded approximately US$132 million in tourism investments. In the first quarter of 2026, tourism investment increased by an extraordinary 438 percent.”
Professor Ncube said these are not only statistics but also signals of confidence, reflecting that investors are increasingly looking at Zimbabwe and seeing not only a destination but also an investment opportunity.
The sector, he said, is one of the leading growth areas, and they want that momentum to continue.
“During the first half of 2026, tourist arrivals, both domestic and international, reached at least 792,000, representing a positive development for the tourism industry and the wider economy. More importantly, tourism receipts increased by 6 percent, from US$508 million during the first half of 2025 to US$537 million in the first half of 2026,” said the Finance Minister.
“This is a significant development, which demonstrates that the recovery is not only reflected in the number of tourists entering the country but also in the amount of economic value being generated from tourism. International tourist arrivals increased by 6.1 percent in the second quarter of 2026 compared with the first quarter, while domestic tourism trips increased by 27 percent, rising from approximately 5 million in the first half of 2025 to 6.4 million in the first half of 2026.”
He said the Tourism Investment Forum, therefore, has a deliberate purpose, which is to showcase Destination Zimbabwe and its powerful investment value proposition.
Professor Ncube said it will help connect capital with opportunity, investors with projects, ideas with implementation, and Zimbabwe’s extraordinary tourism assets with the resources required to unlock their full economic value.
“Tourism is no longer simply about hotels, game drives, and sightseeing. Tourism today encompasses technology, infrastructure, real estate, aviation, finance, entertainment, culture, and creativity. It is, therefore, one of the most powerful platforms through which Zimbabwe can drive inclusive economic growth,” he said.
“Tourism creates linkages across agriculture, transport, construction, ICT, finance, culture, and the creative industries. Every hotel room constructed creates demand for food, transport, laundry, construction materials, technology, entertainment, and professional services. When we invest in tourism, we are investing across the entire economy.”
