Forbes crowns Zimbabwe top 2025 destination
Forbes Magazine selected Zimbabwe as the top travel destination for 2025, prompting celebrations from government officials and tourism operators. Tourism Minister Barbara Rwodzi said the recognition validates the country’s presidential engagement policies and positions it as an attractive destination for international visitors.
The country recorded more than 1.6 million foreign arrivals in 2024, demonstrating recovery from pandemic disruptions. Government initiatives introduced a 12-cluster diversification strategy covering sports tourism, medical travel and cultural heritage visits among other categories.
First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa championed gastronomy tourism after Zimbabwe hosted the first United Nations Tourism Gastronomy Conference in Africa, held at Victoria Falls. The event generated sustained interest in local cuisine and increased visitor numbers to the region.
Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart noted airline search data from Kayak showed an 80 percent increase in queries about the city over the past year. The mayor urged regional carriers to establish routes that capitalize on the growing demand for access to Bulawayo and nearby Matobo attractions.
