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Simbarashe Murima, [email protected]

Zimbabwe is a pious country with a monotheistic faith venerated by Christianity, followed by Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and New Religious Movements (NRMs), a minority group with catholic roots and beliefs.

Constitutionally, Zimbabwe proscribes religious bigotry or discernment and cares for freedom of religious conviction, in addition to the liberty to practice, spread and give representation to one’s religion, in public or private.

There is a progressive shift in religious tourism in Zimbabwe, as we are witnessing an intensification of the influx of people visiting renowned prophets and spiritualists.

Thus, to mention a few colossal religious tourism events and occurrences, below are some marketable religious tourism products and services offered in Bulawayo and other parts of the country.

One of the notable religious tourism events that recently braced the City of Kings, at the highly anticipated “Night of Wonders” brought courtesy of The Kingdom Embassy Church/Passion Java Ministries.

“Night of Wonders”

Also, many congregants attend the Chitenderano Chevapostori Apostolic Church led by a prophetic maven, Bishop Dungeni in Sizinda, Bulawayo where healing and faithful worshipping are attested.
Additionally, a large group of Women of Valour Gospel from Prophetic Healing and Deliverance Ministries went on a tour to Farm Resort in Goromonzi for a prayer session and leisure activities. Their sojourn at the resort, was an inordinate boost for domestic tourism through the religious tourism gatherings.

Though blessed with opulent religions, Zimbabwe is yet to fully maximise the benefits, opportunities and impacts of religious tourism on the country’s social and economic facets.

In this context, religious tourism is defined as the visit or attendance of holy places by believers to receive Elysian blessings either through ceremonial participation or sharing spiritual experiences while witnessing faith with others.
Religious tourism includes everyone who travels to religious destinations for religious purposes and partakes in religious activities such as sermons, prayer, trances, music, commemoration or veneration and funerary services.

In recent years, Zimbabwe has witnessed a surge in religious tourism engulfing the landscape, but the insight into developing this subset of the tourism industry by policymakers and tourism stakeholders in the country appears averse.
Also known as spiritual tourism or faith tourism, religious tourism can be one of the most valuable tourism apparatus that will fortify inclusive, domestic and sustainable tourism development in Zimbabwe.

St Mary’s Cathedral Basilica in Bulawayo

As evidence of the potential evolution of spiritual tourism in Zimbabwe, Tripadvisor, a prominent American company that operates online travel agencies that connect people across the world to assorted experiences listed the Holy Trinity Catholic Cathedral in Mutare, Al-Abbas Mosque in Harare, St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica in Bulawayo and the Cathedral of St. Theresa in Gweru as the best religious cathedrals and shuls with affluent heritage status, to visit while in Zimbabwe.

Religious tourists, directly or indirectly motivate and promote sustainable efforts in numerous tourism aspects.
For example, visiting church spots such as the above-mentioned sites helps preserve them as holy heritage places, which are a source of identity, probity and pride.

Likewise, religious tourism is a subset niche of cultural tourism and a catalyst for breaking down obstacles of creed, class, race, ethnicity, language, socio-cultural disparities, etc.

Religious tourism is a cross-sectoral activity that can positively influence the economic, social, cultural and political dimensions of Zimbabwe such that religious dwellings become places of mental recovery and peace, employment creation, unity among diverse ethnic groups and infrastructural expansion.

In addition, it supports the needy, boosts the transport and hospitality sector and unites people from different religious sects.
Faith tourism in Zimbabwe is integral in the growth of tourism, particularly local tourism, which the industry bestows infinitely to the country’s economy and industry growth.

At many gatherings, religious devotees make a direct contribution to tourism earnings by fully booking accommodation facilities and spending money on food and drinks as well as other tourism-related services during their pilgrim’s stay.
Religious tourism has mammoth benefits and opportunities for the future of tourism in Zimbabwe’s socio-economic growth. I, therefore, posit credence to this major form of tourism to be focal in Zimbabwe’s tourism industry.

*Simbarashe Murima (PhDc) writes in his capacity as an education, tourism and hospitality expert in Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. Feedback: [email protected] or 0781480742.