The new visa regime will allow Chinese visitors to obtain a visa on arrival, rather than the current method of obtaining a visit in China before they travel, which is often a lengthy process.
The Zimbabwe government will relax visa restrictions for Chinese tourists entering the country as of July 1, in an effort to boost inbound tourism.
The new visa regime will allow Chinese visitors to obtain a visa on arrival, rather than the current method of obtaining a visit in China before they travel, which is often a lengthy process.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority CEO Karigoga Kaseke said easing the visa policy for the Chinese market would make Zimbabwe more competitive and attractive, “especially as it competes in the global marketplace”.
Currently, Zimbabwe receives fewer than 15,000 arrivals from China annually.
The change in visa policy for Chinese travellers is one of the significant outcomes of Zimbabwe president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s state visit to China earlier this year.
Zimbabwe says it has witnessed “phenomenal” 48% growth in foreign arrivals during the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017.