Victoria Falls, one of Southern Africa’s most iconic natural landmarks, recorded a significant increase in international tourist arrivals in the first quarter of 2025, according to official data released by the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks). The authority reported a total of 61,139 visitors to the Zimbabwean side of the falls between January and March 2025 — a marked improvement from the corresponding period in 2024.
According to ZimParks spokesperson Tinashe Farawo, this growth was primarily driven by a rise in international arrivals, which reached 47,633 visitors, compared to 44,110 recorded during the first quarter of 2024. While international tourism has shown encouraging momentum, domestic visitation exhibited a marginal decline, though specific figures were not provided.
A confluence of strategic factors has contributed to the upswing in international interest. Foremost among these is the expansion of the Victoria Falls International Airport, which has enhanced regional and intercontinental connectivity. Notably, the addition of direct flights from key European hubs — including Frankfurt — has been instrumental in attracting German tourists, alongside strong visitor numbers from the United Kingdom and Ireland.
South Africa continues to dominate as the leading source market for Zimbabwe’s tourism, followed closely by Botswana. These neighbouring countries maintain historical and logistical ties with Zimbabwe, with cross-border tourism further facilitated by regional policy developments. One such measure is the KAZA UniVisa, a collaborative initiative between Zimbabwe and Zambia, which enables tourists from participating nations to traverse both countries with a single visa. This mechanism has significantly reduced administrative barriers and has been positively received by both tour operators and travellers.
Farawo highlighted that packaged travel options tailored to European markets have played a vital role in stimulating inbound tourism, with many visitors opting for multi-destination itineraries that combine the natural grandeur of Victoria Falls with the surrounding wildlife reserves and cultural experiences.
Located on the Zambezi River at the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, Victoria Falls is recognised as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. It is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and a focal point of ecological and economic value within the region. The area boasts a wide array of endemic flora and fauna, making it a major draw for eco-tourism, adventure travel, and conservation-based tourism initiatives.
The positive tourism trajectory observed in the first quarter of 2025 underscores the significance of infrastructural development, strategic source market targeting, and policy harmonisation in revitalising regional tourism. It also points to the resilience of the Southern African tourism sector as it recovers and repositions itself following the disruptions of the past few years.
As stakeholders look ahead to the remainder of 2025, maintaining sustainable visitor growth while preserving the ecological integrity of Victoria Falls will remain a critical priority for Zimbabwean tourism authorities.
