Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. GOVERNMENT is amending the tourism legislation to make local holidays more affordable and encourage Zimbabweans to travel within the country, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Barbara Rwodzi has said.
The planned amendment comes as Zimbabwe’s tourism industry consolidates its recovery after several years of subdued activity.
The sector has become one of the key contributors to national growth, driven by increased conference meetings, religious and business travel.
Tourism has contributed about 17% of Zimbabwe’s gross domestic product.
However, despite the rebound, high travel and accommodation costs have prevented many citizens from enjoying domestic leisure travel, a challenge the amendments seek to address by promoting affordability and inclusive growth.
Speaking during the 2025 domestic tourism festive season campaign, Rwodzi said family and individual travel remained limited due to high prices, an imbalance that the upcoming legislation seeks to correct.
“The part that is lagging is individuals and families visiting holiday destinations,” she said.
“The cost of visiting or holidaying is very high and that’s what we are addressing through the amendment of the Act.”
“When we contributed 17% to the growth of the country’s economy, about 75% of that was domestic tourism because of events, conferences, sports and religious travel that happen locally,” she said.
Rwodzi said the tourism sector was on a strong rebound, supported by local and international arrivals.
“People are coming to Zimbabwe for investment, conferences and for business, not just leisure,” she said.
Rwodzi applauded tourism operators for maintaining high service standards, saying Zimbabwe’s hospitality remains among the best in Africa.
“Our operators and marketers are doing a great job showcasing that Zimbabwe is a peaceful
and welcoming destination,” she said.
Rwodzi said recent infrastructure investments had transformed access to key destinations, citing the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, which she described as one of the best in Africa and the expanded Victoria Falls International Airport.
“These airports have positioned Zimbabwe as a regional hub, connecting us to major markets. Access to tourism attractions and events has improved greatly because of the President’s infrastructure programme,” she said.
Rwodzi said collaboration with the Transport and Infrastructural Development ministry had improved road networks and enhanced Zimbabwe’s capacity to host large conferences and events in Victoria Falls, Harare and Bulawayo.
To sustain the sector’s momentum, the ministry is strengthening its cluster-based tourism strategy, which targets niche markets such as religious, sports, conference and cultural tourism.
“We are marketing and teaching the beauty of Zimbabwe and its people, the warmth, the animals, the culture. We will continue refining our clusters so that every segment of tourism receives focused attention,” she said.
Rwodzi said the forthcoming amendments to the Tourism Bill would not only address affordability but also align the legal framework with current market realities and the government’s goal of achieving a US$5 billion tourism industry by 2025.
“We are doing everything to ensure Zimbabwe remains a must-visit destination, but most importantly, we want every Zimbabwean to experience and enjoy their own country,” she said.
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