Zimbabwe to yield US$5 billion from tourism

Lazarus Sauti

Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Hon. Walter Mzembi, says Zimbabwe has identified tourism infrastructure development as part of its key plans to transform the country’s ailing economy.

He told potential investors in Johannesburg, South Africa at a Trade and Investment Forum, recently, that among other infrastructural development projects the country has embarked on to revitalise tourism and development include the ongoing upgrade to the country’s major road systems.

The highways that are undergoing a major revamp include the main border networks of Beitbridge border-post between the country and South Africa and the Chirundu border-post between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The Beitbridge–Chirundu highway is one of the busiest borders in Africa as it connects Zimbabwe and South Africa to countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia and Malawi.

The expansion of the Victoria Falls International Airport is also predicted to significantly improve the port’s aircraft handling capacity since it includes the expansion of the existing-runway, assembling of a new runway, construction of a new terminal building as well as a car park and road network.

“Once work to revamp our tourism infrastructure is completed, Zimbabwe is set to yield US$5 billion annually,” said Mzembi, adding that the country is re-positioning itself for tourism investment boom through other initiatives.

“We are re-positioning a country, which is about to rise and shine. There is no medical science in tourism.

“It is about openness,” he said, stressing the need to have an open policy in terms of the country’s skies as well as borders so as to attract more tourists into Zimbabwe.

Citing Isaiah 60 verse 11, he said: “Day and night your gates will be open, so that the kings of the nations may bring you wealth.

“So, going forward, if you want to invest in tourism sector, you have to watch whether we are opening our borders sufficiently enough, and our skies sufficiently enough.”

Minister Mzembi added that an open door policy is part of the Tourism and Hospitality Industry ministry’s 2015-2020 vision to improve tourism infrastructure, attract more arrivals as well as establish a US5 billion tourism economy.

“Through the 2015-2020 vision, Zimbabwe aims to attract at least 5 million arrivals per year and growing the sector to contribute 15 per cent gross domestic product,” affirmed Mzembi.

He said currently the country is receiving 2 million visitors per year generating annual revenue of US$1 billion income while contributing 10 per cent of the country’s gross domestic product.


Mzembi strongly believes that in a landlocked country like Zimbabwe, tourism infrastructure development plays a major role in tapping investment as well as stimulating social and economic expansion.

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