THE country’s tourism authorities should work hand in glove with all relevant stakeholders, including the mobility industry, in order to ensure that the sector realises its full potential, Zimbabwe Mobility and Vehicle Rental Association (ZIMVRA) vice chairperson Victor Madzedze has said.
This comes as Zimbabwe’s tourism sector is officially projected to grow by 3.1 percent, with international tourist arrivals forecast to reach 1.87 million.
“As ZIMVRA -the primary industry body representing car hire, mobility, and vehicle rental operators in Zimbabwe- we believe mobility is a critical pillar of economic growth, tourism development and investment attraction.
“Zimbabwe welcomed approximately 1.6 million international visitors in 2024 and generated around US$1.3 billion in tourism receipts. Our ambition as a country should be to reach 2 million international visitors by 2026 and exceed US$2 billion in tourism receipts,” said Madzedze.
“For this to happen, the mobility sector must grow alongside tourism. Visitors need reliable access to destinations, accommodation and experiences. Our industry exists to provide that access.”
He added that the mobility and vehicle rental sector contribute up to US$500 million to Zimbabwe’s tourism economy.
“We believe the sector has the potential to contribute meaningfully between US$300 million and US$500 million annually to the tourism value chain over the coming years.
“That contribution comes through vehicle rentals, chauffeur services, airport transfers, corporate mobility solutions, self-drive tourism, fuel purchases, maintenance services, employment creation and wider economic activity generated through travel,” said Madzedze, who is the founder and managing director of Yarutso Group.
ZIMVRA was determined to build one of Africa’s most professional, innovative and customer-focused mobility industries.
“Tourism is built around three pillars- access, accommodation and activities. Hotels provide accommodation. Attractions provide activities while the mobility sector provides access.
“Without reliable mobility, tourists cannot efficiently move between airports, hotels, national parks, heritage sites and business destinations. The quality of a visitor’s transport experience directly impacts their perception of Zimbabwe as a destination.
“As visitor arrivals continue to increase, the mobility sector will become an even more important contributor to tourism growth and visitor satisfaction,” he said.