Zimbabwe has scooped two accolades at the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) Awards held on the sidelines of ITB Berlin 2026 in Berlin, Germany, reaffirming its growing stature as a premier global tourism destination.
The country won the Destination of the Year – Natural Wonders award, while Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Barbara Rwodzi was named Tourism Minister of the Year – Africa.
The twin accolades cement Zimbabwe’s place on the global tourism map at a time when the sector is being repositioned as a key foreign currency earner and driver of economic growth under Vision 2030.
Zimbabwe was honoured for its exceptional natural assets, conservation leadership and authentic visitor experiences. 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 attract travellers seeking raw, untamed beauty.
Nearly 30% of Zimbabwe’s landmass is protected wilderness, offering pristine ecosystems and world-class safari experiences.
Flagship attractions include Hwange National Park, renowned for vast elephant herds and Big Five encounters; Mana Pools National Park, famous for walking and canoe safaris along the Zambezi River; Gonarezhou National Park, home to dramatic red sandstone cliffs and thriving wildlife; Matobo Hills, celebrated for balancing granite formations and rich cultural heritage; the mist-covered Eastern Highlands; and the limestone system of Chinhoyi Caves, popular 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.
Zimbabwe’s rigorous professional safari guiding standards — considered among the most demanding in Africa — further enhance the visitor experience, ensuring safety, exclusivity and immersive storytelling. The award reinforces Zimbabwe’s brand promise as “A World of Natural Wonders” — unique, uncrowded, authentic and safe.
- Zim shines at ITB Berlin 2026, bags two awards
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Rwodzi was recognised for transformative leadership and innovation in the tourism sector.
Under her stewardship, and with support from First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe hosted the inaugural UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa in Victoria Falls. The event drew delegates from 33 countries, including ministers, UN agencies and global tourism experts, positioning the country as a continental leader in gastronomy tourism.
The initiative has since translated into nationwide gastronomy competitions empowering women, youth and persons with disabilities, promoting community-based economic participation and enterprise development.
Rwodzi also introduced a 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 investment opportunities and strengthened Zimbabwe’s competitive edge.
Through participation at high-level UN Tourism platforms and global forums such as ITB Berlin, Zimbabwe has amplified its international visibility. These efforts complement the government’s re-engagement policy spearheaded by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, aimed at restoring investor confidence and strengthening the country’s global tourism footprint.
The latest honours follow recognition by Forbes, which named Zimbabwe a must-visit destination in 2025.
“This recognition, together with the PATWA award, confirms deliberate government efforts to promote this beautiful destination,” Rwodzi said.
She is accompanied at ITB Berlin by Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Germany, Alice Mashingaidze, and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive George Manyaya.
