Zimbabwe’s tourism revenue fell by 34% in the first quarter of 2026, reaching $251 million, compared with $382 million in the previous quarter, according to data from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe.

Tourist arrivals also declined by 17% over the same period, local media reported, citing the Central Bank.

This contraction is mainly attributed to seasonal fluctuations, the impact of geopolitical tensions on air transport, economic uncertainty, and slowing demand in several major tourism markets, according to the same source.

Africa remains the main source of visitors, accounting for 74.66% of arrivals. Europe ranks second with 9.84%, followed by the Americas (6.85%) and Asia (6.59%). Oceania and the Middle East account for 1.87% and 0.21% of arrivals, respectively.

The hotel sector has also been affected by this slowdown. The average room occupancy rate fell from 53% in the fourth quarter of 2025 to 38% in the first quarter of 2026. This trend notably reflects the seasonal decline in business travel and tourism activity following the holidays.

However, the year-on-year comparison shows a slight improvement. The hotel occupancy rate rose from 36% in the first quarter of 2025 to 38% over the same period in 2026.

These figures contrast with data published last May based on statistics from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. Those figures showed an 11% year-on-year increase in international tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2026, reaching 384,561 visitors, as well as a 14% rise in revenue compared with the first quarter of 2025.

This difference highlights the importance of distinguishing quarterly trends from year-on-year comparisons when assessing the performance of Zimbabwe’s tourism sector.