Russian tourists have made a significant contribution to the development of tourism in Zimbabwe, Deputy Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry of the Republic of Zimbabwe Barbara Rwodzi told Sputnik.
According to her, the sharp rise in tourism revenue has come thanks to visitors from Russia, emphasizing that the main part is business tourism.
She stressed that Harare has high expectations from cultivating relations with Russia in the tourism sector.
The official also stated that the amount of Russian tourists visiting Zimbabwe in 2019, the year preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, was only approximately 45% to 50% of what it had been in prior years. However, the nation is now seeing that more and more travelers are interested in Zimbabwe.
Earlier this year, Zimbabwean politician, ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) party speaker, Christopher Mutsvangwa told Sputnik that Zimbabwe seeks to enhance cooperation with Russia.
Both nations might work together on non-renewable energy sources, according to Mutswangwa. He noted that Mozambique, a significant oil producer in the area, could be reached by a pipeline that Zimbabwe might build with Russia's assistance. The lawmaker has urged the Sverdlovsk region of Russia to assist the African nation in building the pipeline so that the country could be sure to obtain oil from Mozambique.
In addition, the official said that Zimbabwe and Russia may cooperate along the lines of logistics, including building ports and railroads, power generation and distribution facilities, and hydropower plants. Such cooperation, said Mutsvangwa, is extremely essential since Zimbabwe is currently poised to make a significant economic leap forward thanks to the high levels of foreign investment.