Zimbabwe has landed a major international victory after securing the hosting rights for three back-to-back United Nations Tourism summits at Victoria Falls in April 2026.
This is an achievement government officials say is a powerful global endorsement of the country’s growing stature as a world-class tourism destination.
Information Minister Zhemu Soda announced the landmark development during a post-Cabinet briefing in Harare, confirming that Cabinet had approved the hosting of the global gatherings.
“Cabinet advises that Zimbabwe will host major United Nations Tourism events scheduled to run back-to-back at the Elephant Hills Resort in Victoria Falls from 27 April to 1 May 2026,” he said.
The government described the successful bid as a strategic milestone, saying it would cement Zimbabwe’s position as a leading destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions commonly known as MICE tourism.
Three Major Summits, One Iconic Venue
The three summits at Elephant Hills Resort will include the 23rd UN Tourism Committee on Tourism and Sustainability from 27 to 28 April; a Sustainability-linked Pilot Capacity-Building Workshop from 28 to 29 April, ahead of the International Year of Resilient and Sustainable Tourism 2027; and the 2nd UN Tourism Regional Congress on Women Empowerment in Tourism in Africa from 29 April to 1 May 2026.
Each summit targets a critical pillar of global tourism development — sustainability, institutional capacity, and gender equity — making Victoria Falls the nerve centre of Africa’s tourism policy agenda for five landmark days.
Tourism Minister Rwodzi hailed Zimbabwe’s selection as host nation a significant achievement, particularly for the Women Empowerment Congress.
“Hosting the first-ever meeting for UN Tourism that is planning for the year 2027, which is for resilience and sustainable tourism, speaks to how much Zimbabwe is highly regarded at the UN tourism level,” she said.
The government says the events are expected to boost Zimbabwe’s profile within global tourism governance structures while aligning national development priorities with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Women in Tourism
The 2nd UN Tourism Regional Congress on Women Empowerment in Tourism in Africa addresses one of the sector’s most persistent structural inequalities.
Also Read: UN Tourism Brings Inaugural African Gastronomy Forum to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
While women make up 69% of the hospitality workforce in Africa, they remain disproportionately concentrated in lower-paid and informal roles, with little representation at executive and decision-making levels.
The congress aims to change that narrative — moving beyond tokenism toward transforming women into the primary architects of Africa’s tourism future.
