MNANGAGWA OPENS SANGANAI EXPO, CHALLENGES TOURISM SECTOR TO HARNESS AI

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has officially opened the 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe World Tourism Expo, challenging Zimbabwe’s tourism industry to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital technologies to transform the way the country attracts, manages and serves visitors.

The three-day tourism showcase opened on Wednesday, September 9, against the backdrop of the iconic Great Zimbabwe Monuments, bringing together tourism operators, exhibitors, buyers and industry stakeholders from Zimbabwe, the region and beyond.

This year’s expo is running under the theme “Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism.”

President Mnangagwa said AI presents opportunities to develop smarter destinations by helping tourism authorities and operators predict visitor demand, manage traffic flows, improve destination management and monitor environmental conditions.

However, he stressed that technology should complement rather than replace people working in the tourism industry.

“AI and digital technologies must complement human roles and safeguard our local culture rather than replace local jobs,” the President said.

TOURISM INVESTMENT SURGES

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe’s tourism sector continues to show strong growth, with investment in the sector increasing significantly during the first half of 2026.

Tourism investment rose by 229 percent to US$132.3 million, up from US$40.2 million recorded during the same period in 2025.

Domestic tourism has also expanded, with tourist visits increasing from five million to 6.4 million during the first half of the year.

The President said the Creative Cultural Industries are also playing an increasingly important role in the economy, contributing 8.8 percent to national GDP.

He pointed to international recognition of Zimbabwe’s tourism destination marketing efforts, including recognition from global travel publications such as Forbes and Condé Nast, as well as the country’s Gold Award at the 2026 Chinese Tourist Welcome Awards.

MASVINGO POSITIONED AS A TOURISM CORRIDOR

The President said the decision to rotate Sanganai/Hlanganani across Zimbabwe’s provinces is part of Government’s devolution strategy, allowing communities outside traditional tourism centres to benefit directly from tourism business opportunities.

Hosting the expo in Masvingo has also accelerated the transformation of the Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre into a modern business and conferencing facility.

President Mnangagwa challenged tourism operators and local authorities to go beyond individual attractions and develop an interconnected Masvingo tourism corridor.

The proposed corridor would link major attractions including the Great Zimbabwe Monuments, Lake Mutirikwi, Tugwi-Mukosi Dam, Manyuchi Dam and Gonarezhou National Park, together with liberation war heritage sites such as Kamungoma and cultural events including the Budula Festival in Chikombedzi.

The approach, he said, would encourage visitors to spend more time in the province while spreading tourism revenues across communities.

GOVERNMENT BACKS TOURISM GROWTH

President Mnangagwa reaffirmed Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for tourism investment through open skies policies, streamlined travel procedures, predictable policy frameworks and climate-smart infrastructure.

He said Zimbabwe must continue positioning tourism as a key driver of economic growth, job creation and community development under Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS-2).

The opening of Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe comes as Zimbabwe seeks to strengthen its position as a competitive African tourism destination, while using technology and innovation to enhance the visitor experience.

The expo continues in Masvingo with local and international tourism players showcasing destinations, products and experiences as Zimbabwe seeks to convert growing global interest into increased visitor arrivals and investment.