HARARE (FinX) – Tourism receipts are estimated to have increased by 15% to US$252 million in the second quarter of 2024 from US$220 million in the same period on 2023, mainly attributed to rising international tourism in addition to
improved domestic spending.
Tourist arrivals grew by 18.9% from 320 592 recorded in the second quarter of 2023 to 381 293 in the second quarter of 2024. According to the Treasury’s second quarter bulletin, this significant rise in international tourist arrivals is attributed to the ongoing global tourism recovery and improved transportation infrastructure, which has enhanced accessibility, as well as marketing efforts by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) in promoting Zimbabwe as a unique and appealing destination.
During the quarter under review, the bulk of the tourists that visited Zimbabwe, totalling 254 869, came from Africa, against 235 828 recorded during the same period last year.
The Americas was on second spot in terms of tourist arrivals into Zimbabwe in the quarter ended June 30, 2024, during which the country recorded 36 107 arrivals from that part of the world, reflecting a 54.7% increase from 23 334 in the corresponding period last year.
Zimbabwe received 24 582 tourists from Asia in the second quarter of the year, a 63.3% increase from 15 056 registered in the same period in 2023, while arrivals from Europe improved by 40.8% to 54 872 from 38 958.
However, arrivals from the Middle East declined by 44.6% to 1 131 in the quarter under review from 2 042 in the same period last year, while arrivals from Oceania increased by 81.1% to 9 732 from 5 374.
During the same period, Zimbabwe also registered an upward trend in average hotel occupancies from 46% recorded in the second quarter of 2023 to 50%.
