Debra Matabvu
Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe recorded a 15 percent increase of visitors between July and September this year, with the majority visiting tourist destinations across the country, the latest migration report shows.
According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) Quarterly International Migration Statistics yesterday, figures show that the country received about 520 000 visitors this year compared to the 454 000 received last year during the same period.
The report also shows that 58 percent of the visitors are mainly from Africa while Europeans constituted 17 percent with those from South and North America being 10 percent of the visitors.
The rise in tourist arrivals coincided with increased global attention, including Zimbabwe being named the World’s Number One Destination to Visit in 2025 by Forbes, an influential United States-based business and lifestyle magazine.
As of November this year, the country had received an estimated 1,6 million international tourists marking one of the strongest post-Covid-19 pandemic recoveries in the region.
“The country received a total of 1 381 554 arrivals during the third quarter of 2025,” the document reads in part.
“Returning residents from abroad (62 percent) constituted the highest proportion of arrivals during the third quarter of 2025.
“There were 520 751 visitors from abroad who came to Zimbabwe during the third quarter of 2025 compared to 454 043 in the same quarter for 2024 representing an increase of about 15 percent.”
In addition, combined stronger air connectivity, infrastructure upgrades and intensified marketing efforts, have resulted in the increase of visitors over the years.
“The number of visitors coming to Zimbabwe who used air for their travel during the third quarter of 2025 was 182 289 representing 35 percent of all arriving visitors. The volume of visitors who arrived by air increased by about 43 percent from 127 529 in the third quarter of 2024.
“The majority (63 percent) of visitors who travelled by air came through Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport followed by Victoria Falls Airport (32 percent) and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport (6 percent).
“A total of 338 269 arrivals constituting about 65 percent of total arrivals used road as their mode of travel to get into Zimbabwe in the third quarter of 2025.
“In comparison, 326 348 arrivals were recorded at road ports of entry in the third quarter of 2024. Most of the arriving visitors by road came through Beitbridge (75 116) followed by Forbes (66,761) and Victoria Falls Road (64 064).
“The number of arrivals who used rail transport to get into Zimbabwe in the third quarter of 2025 was 193, constituting 0,04 percent of total arrivals.
“In comparison, 166 arrivals were recorded for rail in the third quarter of 2024. All rail arrivals entered through Plumtree Rail Border Post.”
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