Zimbabwe’s Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, has been elected Vice President of the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly — a major milestone that enhances the country’s global tourism profile.
The election took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where Minister Rwodzi also successfully chaired the Assembly’s Fourth Plenary Session.
The session focused on the proposal by the Dominican Republic for the institutionalisation of the UN Tourism Africa and Americas Summit and the creation of a mechanism for South–South cooperation.
According to the Ministry, “Following Zimbabwe’s election as one of the Vice Presidents of the 26th UN Tourism General Assembly in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbara Rwodzi, successfully chaired the Assembly’s Fourth Plenary Session.”
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The Dominican Republic reaffirmed its commitment to the initiative, which received overwhelming support from member states across Africa and the Americas. Once institutionalised, the CAF–CAM Summit will serve as a key platform for high-level political dialogue, technical collaboration, and systematic follow-up on regional and intercontinental tourism commitments.
The proposed summit aims to strengthen cooperation between Africa and the Americas through digital transformation, sustainable tourism development, and inclusive economic growth. It will also promote social inclusion, human capital development, and the preservation of cultural heritage and creative industries linked to tourism.
Minister Rwodzi commended member states for their collective vision, saying the development reflects Zimbabwe and Africa’s growing leadership role in global tourism.
“This move underscores Zimbabwe and Africa’s commitment to driving regional integration, knowledge exchange, and sustainable tourism development across the Global South,” she said.
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