The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has said South Africans constitute the majority of tourists who visit Zimbabwe.

ZTA’s head of corporate affairs, Godfrey Chief Koti, spoke to eNCA and said almost 220 000 South African visitors toured Zimbabwe last year alone. He said:

Predominantly, South Africa has always been the highest feeder as far as regional tourism is concerned, into Zimbabwe. It is great to see them again, maintaining that position. This is something that we are definitely monitoring and watching. We are certain that we will be increasing our efforts into South Africa.

Statistics seen by IOL show that the number of South Africans who toured Zimbabwe in 2022 increased by 205 per cent compared to the previous year.

Zimbabwe also recorded a boom in tourists from Botswana, Malawi, Angola, Mozambique and Zambia.

According to the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority’s statistics, South Africans constituted the majority of tourists who visited the country last year. Out of a total of 693 281 tourists who visited Zimbabwe, South Africans were 219 141.

Zimbabwe boasts world-famous attractions dotted across the country, including the breathtaking Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Hwange National Park, Mana Pools National Park, Matobo Hills, the Great Zimbabwe National Monument, and the Eastern Highlands.

In recent years, the government of Zimbabwe has made efforts to revamp and develop the tourism industry through various initiatives such as easing visa requirements for tourists, upgrading tourism infrastructure, and promoting the country’s unique cultural heritage and wildlife.

Zimbabwe’s tourism industry has remained resilient and continues to attract visitors from around the world despite challenges such as COVID-19 and other natural disasters.

The industry has the potential to generate significant revenue for the country, create employment opportunities, and contribute to the growth of the economy. ZTA says the tourism sector generated approximately $1.2 billion in revenue in 2019. As of September 2022, the sector had contributed US$580 million to the economy reflecting a 137.7 per cent jump from US$244 million realised over the same period in 2021.

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