Strong partnerships are critical for fostering inclusive and resilient growth in Zimbabwe’s tourism sector. This was said by the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Hon. Tongai Mnangagwa, today, during the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry World Tourism Symposium 2025, held under the theme “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation.”
Addressing delegates at the symposium, Hon. Mnangagwa emphasised the importance of responsible tourism that benefits all Zimbabweans while protecting the country’s natural and cultural heritage.
“We are here to celebrate tourism and how it contributes to economic growth. But this growth must be inclusive and sustainable, ensuring that our communities — especially the youth — are empowered in the process,” he said.
The symposium, hosted at the University of Zimbabwe, brought together Government officials, tourism stakeholders, students, and academics to explore how the sector can be transformed through sustainable practices, policy reform, and active community participation.
Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, Professor Paul Mapfumo, highlighted the tourism and hospitality industry as a strategic driver of national development, adding that closer collaboration between academia and the tourism sector is key to unlocking innovation and skills development.
Significant focus was on the newly launched National Tourism Policy, which emphasises devolution and the decentralisation of tourism development. The policy aims to promote engagement and empowerment by expanding tourism opportunities to marginalised and rural communities, aligning with the Government’s broader vision of inclusive development.
“Tourism must reach all corners of the country — not just the traditional destinations. Rural areas have enormous potential that must be unlocked through policy support, infrastructure, and investment,” he said.
Hon. Mnangagwa also spoke passionately about the importance of cultural preservation in tourism, noting that Zimbabwe’s unique heritage must be protected and promoted as a key part of the national identity.
“You cannot find Zimbabwean culture anywhere else. We were colonised and forced to abandon our identity. Now is the time to reclaim and protect our culture — and our youth must lead the way,” he said.
He called on stakeholders across the public and private sectors to develop home-grown solutions that protect the environment and uplift local communities through tourism. Building resilient, inclusive, and sustainable partnerships, he noted, is essential for the long-term success of the sector.
The symposium called for action to position Zimbabwe’s tourism industry as a model of sustainability, youth empowerment, and community-driven development.
