Story by Tichaona Kurewa

VARIOUS measures instituted by the government and the private sector to expedite the recovery of the tourism industry are bearing fruit as 2022 revenues for the sector reached US$1 billion.

As part of efforts to push the recovery of the sector post-COVID-19, the government launched the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy in 2020, which sparked the growth of the sector last year.

The Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, confirmed the development during an engagement with tourism players in Victoria Falls this weekend.

“Post the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country has witnessed a 174 percent increase in tourist arrivals from 380 820 in 2021 to 1,043,781 in 2022. These translated to a 129 percent increase in receipts which saw the country almost reaching a US$1 billion mark in 2022 as we rose from US$396 900 417 to US$910 869 605,” said the Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu.

Tourism stakeholders pledged commitment towards continuously working for the development of the tourism industry.

Tourism sector executive, Mrs Chipo Mandela said, “We have witnessed phenomenal growth of the tourism sector in 2022 which is quite encouraging. We will continue pushing for the attainment of the US$5 billion tourism industry by 2025. This target is quite achievable.

The government is currently consulting on ways to align the National Tourism Policy Vision 2030.