Zimbabwe’s tourism arrivals up 11% as government pushes AI-driven digital overhaul

Zimbabwe recorded an 11% rise in international tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2026, with tourism receipts surging 14% to an estimated US$251 million, as government used a scholastic tourism conference in Masvingo to press universities, industry and policymakers to accelerate the sector’s adoption of artificial intelligence.

Addressing the 2026 Sanganai/Hlanganani Scholastic Tourism Conference at the Masvingo Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre on September 10, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development minister Federick Shava said international arrivals climbed to 384,515 in the first quarter, while domestic tourism trips rose 35 percent to 2.62 million.

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