Mishma Chakanyuka, Staff Writer 
PLAYERS in Zimbabwe’s tourism industry are calling for the revitalisation and capacitation of the aviation sector, emphasising the need to draw lessons from neighbouring African countries to enhance the country’s tourism growth.
This comes as Zimbabwe seeks to revitalise its aviation industry after years of neglect, with recent policy changes aimed at fostering a competitive edge.
Tourism Business Council president, Wengayi Nhau, highlighted the critical role of a well-defined and efficient national airline in boosting tourism.
“A vibrant, capacitated national airline is a key enabler to the tourism and travel industry,” Nhau told The Financial Gazette.
“We need to go back to the drawing board and see how best we can capacitate our national airline because you cannot develop a destination without a reliable and efficient national carrier,” he said.
Nhau also pointed to lessons Zimbabwe could learn from Uganda, adding, “We are actually looking at learning from the Ugandans, and we have to use what we learnt back home. We need to make sure our airline is brought back to its former glory, flying into intercontinental destinations, which are the source markets.”
He emphasised that a revived national airline would be essential for driving tourism, trade, and investment.
“This will boost tourism, trade traffic, and investment opportunities for Zimbabwe and the other source markets. We are looking forward to a revived Air Zimbabwe as an anchor for Zimbabwe,” Nhau stated.
To support the aviation sector, the government has been investing in airport infrastructure. A key project includes the construction of a new US$153 million terminal at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare. The terminal’s development includes expanding the international terminal building, adding four new air bridges, and a VVIP pavilion, and installing advanced radar and communication systems.
Additionally, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport and Victoria Falls International Airport have undergone significant refurbishments. The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, with government backing, plans to further enhance communication systems across seven of the country’s eight airports.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe’s tourism sector has experienced remarkable growth, with an 83 percent surge in tourist arrivals during the second quarter of 2024. According to EFE Research, the tourism sector has become the fastest-growing in the country, playing a pivotal role in boosting the economy through foreign currency earnings and job creation.
“This continued strong performance in tourism is a bright spot for the economy,” EFE noted in a recent report.
In 2023, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) reported that the sector generated approximately US$1,16 billion, marking a 27 percent increase from the previous year. International tourism receipts rose by 43 percent.
Despite these achievements, EFE Research cautioned that the sector’s sustained growth will depend on continued investments in infrastructure and ensuring both economic and political stability.
“Ongoing investments are crucial to maintain this upward trajectory,” the report emphasised.
Looking ahead, the future of Zimbabwe’s tourism sector appears promising. Fitch Solutions forecasts continued growth in tourist arrivals, building on the recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. Their report highlighted that the medium-term outlook from 2025 to 2028 is positive, underpinned by the diversification of key source markets and the country’s wide range of travel offerings.
With strategic investments in aviation and infrastructure, Zimbabwe stands poised to cement its status as a premier tourism destination in the region.
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