Zimbabwe has recorded a notable increase in international travel in 2025, reflecting a strengthening post-pandemic recovery and growing global confidence in the country’s economy and tourism sector.
According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), foreign arrivals rose significantly in the third quarter of 2025, driven primarily by business travel and leisure tourism.
Data show that business visitors surged by nearly 43 percent year-on-year, climbing from 82,454 to 118,496 arrivals. Holidaymakers remained the largest group of travelers, with tourist arrivals increasing by 18 percent to 256,143 between July and September 2025.
Overall, Zimbabwe welcomed 520,751 foreign visitors during the quarter, a 15 percent increase compared with the same period in 2024. When returning residents are included, total arrivals reached 1,381,554.
ZimStat Director General Tafadzwa Bandama underlined the importance of these figures for policymaking.
“International migration statistics play a critical role in national planning and policy formulation. They contribute essential inputs for estimating population growth and understanding migration flows,” she said.
African countries accounted for 58.9 percent of total arrivals, with South Africa remaining Zimbabwe’s largest source market, followed by Mozambique and Zambia. Visitors from Europe and the Americas also represented sizable shares, at 17.1 percent and 10.2 percent respectively, highlighting Zimbabwe’s widening global reach.
The rise in arrivals aligns with Zimbabwe’s long-term tourism strategy, which targets a US$10 billion tourism economy by 2030. The government is focusing on infrastructure upgrades, heritage-based tourism, and sustainability through its 2025–2030 Tourism and Hospitality Industry Policy. Flagship attractions such as Victoria Falls and Great Zimbabwe remain central to this vision.
While business and leisure travel expanded, other segments declined, with education-related visits falling sharply. Even so, the overall trend signals that economic stability, business-friendly reforms, and targeted tourism policies are positioning Zimbabwe as a growing hub for international travel and investment.
