Pacific Area Travel Writers Association honored Zimbabwe with the Destination of the Year — Natural Wonders Award at its awards ceremony held alongside ITB Berlin 2026 in Berlin, recognizing the country for its remarkable natural attractions and growing appeal as a global tourism destination.
According to heraldonline, this came as the country’s Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi was named Tourism Minister of the Year — Africa.
Zimbabwe is accelerating its tourism growth trajectory under President Mnangagwa, whose development thrust has positioned tourism as a key pillar in achieving Vision 2030 and transforming the country into an upper-middle-income economy.
Zimbabwe was honoured for its exceptional natural assets, conservation leadership and authentic visitor experiences.
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Anchored by the majestic Victoria Falls, the world’s largest curtain of falling water stretching 1 708 metres wide and plunging 108 metres into the Zambezi Gorge, the country continues to captivate global travellers seeking raw, untamed beauty.
Nearly 30 percent of Zimbabwe’s landmass is protected wilderness, offering pristine ecosystems and unmatched safari experiences.
Among its flagship natural attractions are Hwange National Park, renowned for its vast elephant herds and Big Five encounters; Mana Pools National Park, famous for exclusive walking and canoe safaris along the Zambezi River; Gonarezhou National Park, home to dramatic red sandstone cliffs and large elephant populations; Matobo Hills, celebrated for balancing granite rock formations and rich cultural heritage; the mist-covered Eastern Highlands; and the striking deep-blue limestone system of Chinhoyi Caves, ideal for diving and exploration.
Complementing its natural beauty are the ancient ruins of Great Zimbabwe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site symbolising the country’s rich civilisation history.
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Zimbabwe’s rigorous and highly respected professional safari guiding standards considered among the most demanding in Africa, further elevate the visitor experience, ensuring safety, exclusivity and immersive storytelling.
The award affirms Zimbabwe’s positioning as “A World of Natural Wonders” unique, uncrowded, authentic and safe.
Minister Rwodzi was recognised for transformative leadership and bold innovation within Zimbabwe’s tourism sector.
Under her stewardship, and with strong support from the Patron of Tourism, First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe successfully hosted the inaugural UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa in Victoria Falls.
The landmark event, the first of its kind on the continent, drew delegates from 33 countries including ministers, UN agencies and global tourism experts, positioning Zimbabwe as a continental leader in gastronomy tourism.
The initiative has since translated into nationwide gastronomy competitions empowering women, youth and persons with disabilities, enabling community-based economic participation, poverty reduction and enterprise development.
Minister Rwodzi also introduced an innovative 12-cluster tourism diversification model aligned with Vision 2030, expanding tourism beyond wildlife to include gastronomy, medical, cultural, sports and adventure tourism.
The strategy has enhanced market segmentation, unlocked new investment opportunities and strengthened Zimbabwe’s competitive edge within Africa.
Through active participation at high-level UN Tourism platforms and global forums such as ITB Berlin, Zimbabwe has amplified its international visibility.
These efforts complement the Second Republic’s re-engagement policy spearheaded by President Mnangagwa, restoring investor confidence and strengthening Zimbabwe’s global tourism footprint.
Minister Rwodzi has further championed heritage preservation, promotion of national fabric and expansion of cultural festivals, deepening community pride while attracting travellers seeking authentic African experiences.
In support of national devolution, she decentralised the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo by taking it to Mutare and other provinces, ensuring tourism growth benefits communities nationwide and leaving no place and no one behind.
She is accompanied at ITB Berlin by Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Germany, Mrs Alice Mashingaidze and the chief executive of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Dr George Manyaya, underscoring a co-ordinated diplomatic and marketing push to consolidate Zimbabwe’s presence in the European market.
These awards reflect the tourism development agenda championed by President Mnangagwa, who has prioritised infrastructure modernisation, air connectivity expansion, ease of doing business reforms, investment facilitation, peace and security all critical enablers in positioning Zimbabwe as an emergent and competitive African destination.
The accolades come as Zimbabwe was recently named by Forbes as one of the must-visit destinations, further cementing its growing global appeal.
From thundering waterfalls and vast wilderness to culinary innovation and inclusive tourism policies, Zimbabwe is charting a bold new chapter. The double recognition at ITB Berlin 2026 signals more than celebration , it confirms Zimbabwe’s steady rise as a world-class tourism destination anchored on sustainability, inclusivity and visionary leadership.
