An aerial view of Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River, one of Zimbabwe's major tourism attractions. Photo Credit: Wolfgang Steiner/Getty Images

NNA News - Domestic tourism in Zimbabwe rose to 6.4 million visits in the first half of 2026, up from 5 million during the same period last year, as the government seeks to expand local travel and attract further investment into the tourism sector.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced the figures on Wednesday while officially opening the 19th Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe World Tourism Expo in Masvingo. The figures refer to domestic tourism visits, rather than international tourist arrivals. Zimbabwe's Treasury recorded 1.78 million international tourist arrivals for the whole of 2025, making the distinction important when assessing the latest figures.

Mnangagwa said the increase reflected growing interest among Zimbabweans in travelling within their own country. “Zimbabweans are commended for the increase in domestic tourism from 5 million visitors in the first half of 2025 to 6.4 million, during the same period, this year,” he said. The increase represents growth of about 28% compared with the first half of 2025.

The President urged the tourism industry to strengthen domestic tourism campaigns, including the Nhaka Yedu/Ilifa Lethu initiative, and encouraged Zimbabweans at home and in the diaspora to explore destinations within the country. Zimbabwean media reported that the campaign is intended to encourage greater local travel and broaden participation in the tourism economy. Tourism investment also increased sharply during the first six months of the year. Mnangagwa said investment in the sector rose by 229% to US$132.3 million, compared with US$40.2 million in the same period of 2025.

The government has linked the sector's expansion to investment in accommodation, transport infrastructure and other tourism facilities, while also seeking to develop products beyond Zimbabwe's established attractions. Mnangagwa called for barriers affecting the development of new tourism products to be removed and for travel procedures to be simplified as the country pursues what he described as an “open sky strategy”.

He also placed technology and artificial intelligence on the tourism agenda, with the 2026 expo being held under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.” The President said technology could be used to improve visitor management, demand forecasting and environmental monitoring. “Digital tools should complement human roles, rather than replace them,” Mnangagwa said.

The President said the tourism industry should use digital technologies while maintaining Zimbabwean and African cultural identity. The government is also seeking to strengthen the connection between tourism and the country's creative and cultural industries. Mnangagwa said the creative cultural industries contributed 8.8% of GDP, with tourism growth having wider effects across the sector. The Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe World Tourism Expo is being held in Masvingo from 9 to 12 September, bringing together tourism operators, exhibitors and international buyers. More than 400 exhibitors and more than 150 international buyers are attending, according to Zimbabwean reporting.

Mnangagwa also called for greater use of climate-smart infrastructure to support conservation and sustainable resource management, linking tourism development with environmental considerations. The latest domestic tourism figures come as Zimbabwe seeks to diversify its tourism offering around wildlife, heritage, culture and other attractions while increasing investment and encouraging more Zimbabweans to travel within the country.