Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi says Zimbabwe’s tourism sector is a key driver of national growth and central to community empowerment, cultural preservation, and inclusive development.
Delivering a lecture titled “Cultural Sustainable Tourism: Balancing Heritage and Development” at the Zimbabwe National Defence University in Harare, Minister Rwodzi said the success of the Study Tourism, Culture and Heritage, and Rural Tourism Clusters demonstrates how Zimbabwe is integrating sustainability into its tourism development strategy.
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“The Heritage-Based Tourism Cluster Approach drives policy formulation and ensures that tourism benefits communities,” she said.
Rwodzi added that Zimbabwe’s model aligns with the 2025 United Nations Tourism theme, “Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,” which mirrors the country’s focus on sustainability and heritage protection.
She emphasized that heritage-based tourism not only fuels economic growth but also strengthens national identity and empowers local communities.
The lecture was attended by 35 participants from nine Southern African Development Community countries — including Zimbabwe, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Botswana, and Zambia — who will embark on a domestic study tour to key cultural and historical sites such as the National Heroes Acre, Khami Monuments, Tengenenge Arts and Craft Centre, Hwange, and Victoria Falls.
ZNDU Vice Chancellor and Commandant, Air Vice Marshal Michael T. Moyo, applauded the Ministry’s continued efforts to advance sustainable and heritage-based tourism.
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