BY MUNYARADZI BLESSING DOMA
Zimbabwe has been recognised by Forbes as the World’s Best Country to Visit in 2025, further proving that the country is a safe and peaceful tourist destination.
This global attention which the country got, has been celebrated by many as a well deserved endorsement.
Making the announcement, Forbes described Zimbabwe as “a mosaic of rugged wild terrain and deep ancestral heritage—where jagged granite outcrops rise above sun-scorched golden plains and skies stretch wide over rustling acacia groves.
“The ancient stone city of Great Zimbabwe stands as a powerful reminder of the country’s layered past, its dry-stone walls steeped in centuries-old history.
“Meanwhile, at Victoria Falls, the Zambezi crashes into thunderous gorges below—sending mist into the air that often catches the sun in fleeting rainbows.
“The Eastern Highlands, however, offer a quieter scene: think cloud-covered slopes, winding hiking trails and pockets of mist-laced mountain stillness.”
It was added that Zimbabwe was given the honour because cities like Bulawayo have seen more than 80 percent increase in flight searches on Kayak, while Harare has increased by 56 percent for summer this year.
Minister of Tourism and Hospitality, Barbara Rwodzi was recently quoted saying: “we are overjoyed by the acknowledgement from Forbes and global travel experts.
“As you know, its prestigious when you get such recognition from Forbes and it is confirmation that Zimbabwe is a safe, peaceful, war-free tourist destination.”
Nick Mangwana, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services taking to X, said this is more than just an award; it’s a global recognition of the country’s incredible turnaround.
“We have shed the old label of a pariah state and emerged as a beacon for global explorers.
“Under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, we are not just on the map—we are leading it.”
Several embassies and agencies have celebrated Zimbabwe’s feat, with some saying “Zimbabwe has rightly been named the world’s best country to visit in 2025 by Forbes.”
According to latest figures from ZimStats, the country recorded a significant rise in tourist arrivals in the second quarter of 2025, a sign of the country’s growing appeal as a competitive destination.
It was added that 471 041 tourist arrivals were recorded during the second quarter, a figure higher than last year’s 381 293 in the same period.
And in 2024, the country received over 1,6 million tourists, as the sector contributes about 17 percent to the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
