02/08/2026
Geopolitical tensions in Middle East as major hubs for Tourists interconnectivity affects half year International Tourists Arrivals
Lusaka, 2 August 2026
The Ministry of Tourism has announced that Zambia's tourism sector continues to demonstrate resilience despite global economic and geopolitical challenges that affected performance during the first half of 2026. The Ministry remains optimistic that strategic interventions and intensified destination marketing will drive stronger growth in the second half of the year.
Addressing members of the press, Permanent Secretary Mr. Evans Muhanga said international tourist arrivals stood at 1,033,284 during the first half of 2026, representing a 6.6 percent decline compared to 1,106,559 recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.
He attributed the decline to global geopolitical tensions, increased travel costs resulting from higher fuel prices, slower economic growth in key source markets and disruptions to international air connectivity.
The Permanent Secretary further disclosed that visits to tourism sites, including National Parks, Heritage Sites and National Museums, slightly declined by 1.24 percent, from 246,920 visits during the first half of 2025 to 243,864 in the same period this year.
Mr. Muhanga noted that tourism sector revenues amounted to K177.82 million, compared to K241.90 million during the same period in 2025. The reduction was largely attributed to lower collections from tourism levy and hunting and park fees, although positive growth was recorded in casino revenues, hotel managers' registration and tourism enterprise registrations.
Despite these challenges, the Ministry recorded significant achievements in destination marketing and investment promotion. Among the key highlights were the successful hosting of the Zambia Travel Expo (ZATEX) 2026, participation in Experience Africa in the United Kingdom, Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) in India, Meetings Africa in South Africa and ITB Berlin in Germany. These engagements strengthened Zambia's visibility in international tourism markets and created opportunities for investment and business partnerships.
The Ministry also made significant progress in strengthening the tourism sector through strategic interventions, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with UN Tourism to facilitate the development of a Tourism Satellite Account (TSA), which will improve the measurement of tourism's contribution to the national economy.
Additionally, Government officially launched the "Zambia Moves You" destination brand to enhance the country's competitiveness as a tourism and investment destination.
Looking ahead, the Ministry remains confident that tourism performance will improve during the remainder of 2026. Enhanced destination marketing, improved air connectivity, expanded tourism products, increased investment in tourism infrastructure, growth in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism and continued promotion of domestic tourism are expected to support the sector's recovery and growth.The Ministry projects international tourist arrivals to reach 2.5 million by the end of the year.
The Ministry of Tourism reaffirms its commitment to working closely with industry stakeholders, cooperating partners and local communities to build a resilient, competitive and sustainable tourism sector that contributes meaningfully to Zambia's socio-economic development.
Issued By
Nelly Banda Chewe
Principal Public Relations Officer
Ministry of Tourism