Overview
Zimbabwe’s tourism industry has the potential to be the fastest growing sector in the country’s economy. Zimbabwe ranks fourth out of the top tourist destinations in Africa.
The Zimbabwe Tourist Development Corporation was established in 1984 to promote tourism and invest in development projects in the tourism industry.
Zimbabwe’s top tourist attractions include the Great Zimbabwe Ruins and the world famous Victoria Falls where the Zambezi River cascades over a 1,700 metre wide precipice eventually flowing into Lake Kariba, a large inland lake that offers a wide range of water-sports. The country has three large national conservation parks where the best of Africa’s wildlife is to be seen.
Apart from tourist attractions, Zimbabwe offers numerous facilities for sport and recreation. It has over 70 golf courses, many set in superb surroundings attached to first class resort hotels. The Eastern Highlands resorts are well-known for their excellent trout fishing opportunities.
Hotels in Zimbabwe are generally of an excellent standard, especially in Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls. The rise in tourism to the country has seen hotel-occupancy rates increase rapidly and all visitors are advised make sure their accomodation is confirmed prior to their arrival in Zimbabwe. Non-residents are required to pay hotel bills in foreign currency.
Zimbabwe Sun Hotels, (ZimSun) the country’s leading hotel, resort and tourism group, is continuing its expansion of its chain of first class hotels. It manages a wide range of hotels located near every business centre and tourist attraction in Zimbabwe and is expanding into the ecotourism sector through the acquisition of majority stakes in leading ecotourist resorts. In 1998/99 financial year, ZimSun increased its earnings by almost half. ZimSun has plans to expand into Mozambique and Zambia.