Zimbabwe records jump in inbound travellers

ZIMBABWE recorded nine percent increase in travellers coming into the country during the second quarter of 2024 with 56 percent of these being returning citizens and others coming in for tourism and leisure, according to ZimStat.

In an update report on Friday, ZimStat demographic analysis manager, Mr Perfect Makumbe, said 662 398 residents were returning from abroad during the period compared to 655 377 in the second quarter of 2023.

“Zimbabwe recorded a total of 1 077 449 arrivals during the second quarter of 2024. Of these, 56 percent were returning residents and 35,1 percent were visitors from abroad,” said Mr Makumbe.

Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport

“The number of all arrivals increased by nine percent compared to the second quarter of 2023 while visitors from abroad increased by 25 percent.”

Of the 414 878 visitors who came to Zimbabwe during the second quarter of 2024, he said, 46,9 percent came for holiday, which is a 14 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

Mr Makumbe said 69 percent of the visitors to Zimbabwe used road transport while 31 percent used air transport.

“The number of visitors coming to Zimbabwe who used air for their travel during the second quarter of 2024 was 128 397 representing 31 percent of all arriving visitors,” he said.

Zimbabwe Boarder

“The volume of visitors who arrived by air increased by almost 54 percent from 83 447 in the second quarter of 2023.

“The majority of visitors who used air came through Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, followed by Victoria Falls Airport and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport.”

Victoria Falls International Airport

A total of 286 414 arrivals used road as their mode of travel to get into Zimbabwe in the second quarter of 2024.

In comparison, 248 545 arrivals were recorded at road ports of entry in the second quarter of 2023.
The majority of arriving visitors by road came through Beitbridge (69 199) followed by Victoria Falls Road (45 674) and Kazungula (44 750).

ZimStat also revealed that 49,6 percent of the visitors came for holiday, 25,3 percent where visitors in transit, 22,4 percent were business visitors, 2,8 percent came for shopping and 2,7 percent came for school.

During the second quarter of 2024, there were 153 932 arriving visitors whose country of last permanent residence was in Africa compared to 251 052 who arrived in the second quarter of 2023.

“This represented a decrease of 38,7 percent. The majority of these visitors came from South Africa (47 968) followed by Mozambique (32 170) and Zambia (22 105),” said Mr Makumbe.-chroncile