Imagine exploring the majestic Victoria Falls, witnessing the scenic breathtaking beauty of Matobo Hills, or experiencing the vibrant culture of Harare. Zimbabwe’s tourism industry is a treasure trove of opportunities, and investors are taking notice.
Zimbabwe’s tourism sector has witnessed remarkable growth, with innovative startups driving this upward trend. Among these trailblazers is Yarutso Tourism, a visionary company making significant strides in the industry. Yarutso Tourism proudly operates Yarutso Car Rental and Yarutso Adventure under its flagship, offering a comprehensive range of services to tourists.
Yarutso Car Rental provides reliable and affordable transportation solutions, catering to the diverse needs of visitors. Meanwhile, Yarutso Adventure is a rides and thrills adventure park offering games such as Quad bikes, Archery and target shooting which helps the company curate9 unforgettable experiences, from thrilling excursions to cultural immersions, showcasing the best of Zimbabwe.
By providing exceptional services and unique experiences, Yarutso Tourism has positioned itself as one of the leading tourism companies in Zimbabwe.
The company’s commitment to excellence has far-reaching benefits, enhancing the country’s appeal to international visitors, contributing to the growth of local economies, and creating employment opportunities for Zimbabweans.
The company has also embraced the theme of going green which is a model that focuses on reducing carbon emissions from combustion engines.
The company stocks 50 percent hybrid vehicles and is looking to grow that number to 100 percent.
Yarutso Tourism’s success story serves as a testament to the potential of Zimbabwe’s tourism sector. As the company continues to innovate and expand, it remains a shining example of entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to showcasing the beauty and wonder of Zimbabwe.
Victor Tawanda Madzedze, a 30-year-old entrepreneur, is the man behind this successful business.
Madzedze’s remarkable journey began in Harare, where he was born and faced adversity at a young age. Orphaned at just seven years old, he was taken under the wing of his aunt, who raised him with unwavering discipline and guidance.
Her strict yet nurturing approach instilled in Madzedze the fundamentals of hard work, consistency, and resilience.
These values propelled Madzedze to academic excellence. He earned a first-class degree in Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing, followed by a prestigious Master of Business Administration (MBA). His academic achievements laid the groundwork for a successful entrepreneurial venture.
At 25, Madzedze took the leap into business, launching his entrepreneurial journey in 2019. Despite the challenges, he persevered, driven by the lessons learned from his aunt and his own determination.
Today, Madzedze’s story serves as an inspiration to others, showcasing the power of hard work, discipline, and passion in overcoming adversity.
“I wouldn’t say I was inspired to be an entrepreneur, but I was exposed to it. At the age of 23, just after graduation, I joined a startup and, by 24, I was head of commercial.
“Being part of the executive management, I was thrown into the deep end of business, which made the startup world incredibly attractive to me. I knew this was what I wanted to do. At 24, I launched my first business, which unfortunately wasn’t successful. However, at 25, I launched what is now the Yarutso Tourism Group,” said Madzedze.
Entrepreneurship is a very complicated and demanding pursuit, filled with numerous obstacles.
Three of the most pressing challenges entrepreneurs face are securing sufficient capital to fuel growth, assembling a skilled and dedicated team, and achieving product-market fit – the elusive sweet spot where a product or service meets the needs of its target audience.
Madzedze said that inexperience was one of the major challenges that he endured whilst starting his business.
“Inexperience is one of the challenges that I have faced during my entrepreneurial journey.”
Despite these roadblocks Madzedze managed to achieve some of the milestones that he so desperately wanted to reach.
“Throughout my entrepreneurial journey, I’ve celebrated several milestones. Notably, I’ve successfully scaled the business from startup to maturity, achieving our 5-year milestone.
“Our team has grown, with some employees loyal for up to 3 years. Our customer base continues to expand, and we’ve launched innovative solutions that have gained traction.”
Madzedze also urged upcoming entrepreneurs to focus on driving sales, not seeking capital, but instead to use the sales proceeds to fund growth.
“My philosophy in business is that you shouldn’t raise capital, raise sales instead. Many entrepreneurs focus too much on the lack of capital, instead of going to market and selling the little they have, saving, and ultimately building their capital base from sales proceeds – a concept termed bootstrapping.
“Don’t be too quick to abdicate the CEO seat. Work in your business wholeheartedly with lazer focus.”
Madzedze also advised the entrepreneurs to start now, leveraging available resources.
“The cost of starting may seem embarrassing, but take the leap and embarrass yourself,” he encourages.
“Get feedback, improve, and repeat the cycle. Before you know it, you’ll gain traction and momentum will build, creating a flywheel effect that propels your business forward.
“When we launched Yarutso Adventure, one client was like this place looks terrible we don’t want to do activities here and they were right but I understood this was a minimum viable product, so the cost of entry typically looks like embarrassment, accept that,” added Madzedze.
Yarutso prioritizes social responsibility through various philanthropic initiatives. Notably, the company proudly supports the Gifted Children Foundation, empowering talented young minds to reach their full potential.
Additionally, Yarutso contributes to diverse programs that align with its values, addressing the unique needs of the community.
Madzedze also noted that the Zimbabwean tourism sector has great potential to surpass even mining if it is invested right.
“Tourism presents a major opportunity for Zimbabwe, with 2023 export receipts at $1.2 billion and half-year 2024 numbers at around $600 million, meaning we are looking at another billion-dollar performance in 2024.
“This tells you that Zimbabwe’s tourism sector can rival any other sector if adequately invested in. Done right, it can even equal mining, which is at $7 billion, and perhaps out compete mining, considering mining margins can be narrow with high operating costs and capex, unlike tourism margins.”
Last year, the country attracted an impressive $225.7 million in investments, and the potential for growth is huge. From stunning natural wonders to rich cultural heritage sites, Zimbabwe’s tourism sector is ripe for exploration.
The Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency recently revealed this exciting news in its World Tourism Market Investment prospectus. And, the country is set to showcase its incredible offerings at the six-month Osaka Expo in Japan.
Tourism already contributes significantly to Zimbabwe’s economy, accounting for 1.7% of economic growth in 2023 alone and this number is expected to remain steady in the current fiscal year.
“Estimated revenue from domestic tourism rose by 4,7 percent from US$12,6 million recorded in 2022 to US$13,2 million last year,” said ZIDA
“Total receipts increased by 27 percent to US$1,16 billion last year from US$911 million the previous year.”
Notably, Zimbabwe has already surpassed the US$5 billion tourism revenue target set for 2025. This was the result of investments in infrastructure, marketing campaigns, targeting key markets and developing new tourism products
Notably, Zimbabwe has already surpassed the US$5 billion tourism revenue target set for 2025. This was the result of investments in infrastructure, marketing campaigns, targeting key markets and developing new tourism products
