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Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]

ZIMBABWE recorded 46,7 percent jump in international visitors during the third quarter of 2023 to 469 752 compared to 320 238 recorded during the same period last year according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStats).

Presenting the 2023 third quarter international migration statistics on Wednesday, ZimStats acting director-general Mrs Matiwonesa Phiri said the country received a total of 1 125 011 arrivals during the third quarter, which ended September 30, 2023.

This total figure consists of 196 immigrants, 469 752 visitors from abroad and 521 000 returning residents.

The report shows that returning residents from abroad constituted the highest proportion of arrivals during the period under review.

“There were 469 752 visitors from abroad who came to Zimbabwe during the third quarter of 2023 compared to 320 238 in the third quarter of 2022 representing an increase of 46,7 percent.

“The number of immigrants increased to 196 in the third quarter of 2023 from 124 immigrants recorded in the third quarter of 2022,” said Mrs Phiri.

ZimStats

“There were 521 000 residents returning from abroad during the third quarter of 2023.”

According to ZimStats, a majority of the visitors came to the country for holidays, representing 44,2 percent of the total visitors with 28,5 percent being visitors in transit, 24,4 percent business visitors, 1,6 percent for education and 1,32 percent for shopping.

“The number of holiday visitors in the third quarter of 2023 increased from a figure of 175 132 in the third quarter of 2022 to 207 680 in the  quarter ending September 2023 showing an increase of 18,6 percent.

“There were 5 833 visitors in the quarter ending September 2023 who came for shopping, up from 3 074 visitors recorded in the quarter ending September 2022. This represented an increase of 89,8 percent,” said Mrs Phiri.

Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport

“The number of visitors who came for business purposes increased by 212,8 percent from the quarter ending September 2022 to the third quarter of 2023. The number increased from 36 667 to 114 701 in the quarter under review.”

ZimStats also revealed that 71,41 percent of the arrivals who came to Zimbabwe during the period under review used road transport, followed by 28,56 percent who used air and 0,03 percent used rail.

“Among the 335 466 visitors who used road transport, 33,3 percent passed through Beitbridge while among the 134 140 visitors who used air transport, 62,2 percent entered through RGM International Airport, 32,1 used Victoria Falls International Airport and 5,2 percent used the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport,” she said.