Players in the tourism sector have proposed a roadmap to achieve the government’s target of US$5 billion in receipts by 2030.
Speaking at a Tourism Business Council of Zimbabwe (TBCZ) post-budget meeting, Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe (SOAZ) executive director Stanley Mudawarima described tourism as one of Zimbabwe’s most complete value chains.
He said the industry encompassed transport, conservation, agriculture, manufacturing, finance, communities, and foreign currency generation.
“Now that the national budget (presentation) is behind us, what matters at this point forward is implementation, interpretation, and impact. The success of any budget is not measured by how well it reads but by how well it works on the ground in business and in communities,” Mudawarima said.
“Today’s discussions have shown that the private sector is not asking for favours from anybody. What we are asking for is clarity, consistency, and partnership. When those three exist in unison, tourism delivers very quickly and at scale.
“We have been set a challenge to be an industry that is worth US$5 billion by 2030. The important question is not whether this is possible. It is absolutely possible, but how and by when? From our perspective, the pathway is very clear, provided policy and execution remain aligned.”
Mudawarima broke down the proposed roadmap into three phases.
“Phase 1..this is the stabilisation and unlocking growth phase, starting right now up to say 2026. In the short term, the priority is stability. This needs predictable fiscal instruments, streamlined regulatory processes, and removal of friction costs that quietly erode competitiveness.
“With these fundamentals in place, Zimbabwe can easily and realistically grow tourism receipts to possibly US$2,5 billion to US$3 billion within the next 18 to 24 months.
He said improved air access and stronger regional markets would be among the key factors for this stage.
“Phase 2 would cover expansion and product depth and range from possibly 2026 to 2028,” Mudawarima said.
Important offerings would include MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions), sports tourism, faith tourism, gastronomic tourism, high-value safari, conservation, and cultural products.
“(American President Donald) Trump’s children love coming to Zimbabwe quietly; we don’t say it loudly, but they do. That\'s the kind of business we are looking at. Clear reinvestment signals into infrastructure and skills. Infrastructure like roads. We went to the Ministry of Transport to protest about certain issues on the Bulawayo Hwange road rehabilitation, and we were heard,” Mudawarima said.
“If these elements are supported, tourism revenues could rise to US$3,5 billion to US$4,5 billion by 2027 to 2028. At this stage, tourism becomes not just a major foreign currency earner but a stabilizing pillar of this economy.”
“Phase 3 would be focused on maturity and global positioning from 2028 to 2030. The final stretch to US$5 billion by 2030 is achieved not by pushing harder but by working smarter, focusing on value, reputation, and reliability.
“At that point, Zimbabwe will no longer be selling potential. It will be selling performance. Tourism then becomes a platform for long-term investment, conservation, and inclusive growth,” he added.
He said the tourism industry would be partitioned into different clusters.
“Based on international benchmarks, cluster 1 would be access at 30 percent (US$1,5 billion), cluster 2 accommodation (US$1,75 billion), cluster 3 activities 35 percent (US$1,75 billion). It is very achievable.
“With this kind of information, we should be able to say to the authorities we have taken up the challenge, and we will achieve this target as long as you play ball. This should not become a paper strategy from TBCZ, but should require annual cluster scorecards.
“Tying policy to cluster performance, allowing budget allocation to cluster impact, and reporting progress quarterly to stakeholders. The government likes being told what is happening. So, we need to have a mechanism of making sure they understand what we are doing and how we are doing it and what we hope to achieve by 2030.”
