The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has exceeded its first-quarter registration target for 2026 as it steps up preparations for the Sanganai/Hlanganani–Dzimbahwe World Tourism Expo, scheduled for September 9–12 in Masvingo.
ZTA Chief Executive Dr George Manyaya revealed that the authority had aimed to register 339 tourism operators during the first quarter but successfully registered about 664 businesses, almost twice the original target.
The achievement follows a nationwide compliance and enforcement campaign targeting unregistered tourism establishments, including lodges, restaurants, and other hospitality facilities operating outside the formal regulatory framework.
“We want compliance to become a culture rather than a one-off exercise,” said Manyaya, adding that another round of inspections is currently underway.
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To encourage more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to formalise their operations, the government reduced tourism registration and licensing fees by 50 percent earlier this year.
The registration drive comes as ZTA intensifies preparations for the 2026 Sanganai/Hlanganani Expo, which will be hosted in Masvingo as part of the government's devolution agenda of rotating major national events across provinces.
Masvingo is expected to showcase its key tourism attractions, including the Great Zimbabwe Monuments, Lake Mutirikwi, Tokwe-Mukosi Dam, and Gonarezhou National Park.
To increase accommodation capacity during the four-day expo, ZTA has also invited private homeowners to register their properties to host delegates. Approved homes will undergo inspections to ensure they meet minimum hospitality standards before being included in the official accommodation database.
The temporary registration and licensing fee for participating homeowners has been set at US$50.
ZTA says the ongoing compliance campaign and reduced fees are intended to bring more SMEs, particularly those in rural and peri-urban areas, into the formal tourism sector, strengthening Zimbabwe's tourism industry ahead of the flagship international expo.
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