The number of tourists visiting Zimbabwe this year has more than tripled, a trade official said as entrepreneurs tried to lure investors to the southern African country.

Emmanuel Fundira, president of the Zimbabwe Council of Tourism, said at an investment conference in neighboring South Africa that a unity government formed in February has brought political and economic stability.

Zimbabwe has a wealth of minerals and natural attractions and was once the region's breadbasket.

Tourism received a boost when a number of Western countries lifted warnings against traveling to Zimbabwe after the unity government was formed. Zimbabwe is also hoping to benefit from the football World Cup to be held next year in neighboring South Africa.

Fundira said 362,000 people had visited the country by August compared to 100,000 visitors the year before.

A decade ago, Zimbabwe earned $250 million in revenue from tourism, Fundira said. This dropped to $40 million in 2005 but has risen to $100 million since the unity government was formed.

"The economy has got so much potential but political stability is extremely key," Fundira said.

Zimbabwe is rich in gold, platinum and diamonds.

"The opportunities for business in Zimbabwe are immense," said hotelier Shingi Munyeza. "The question is: Do you get in now or later? Later is very costly. Early is very risky."

Munyeza is group chief executive of African Sun, a Zimbabwean company that has expanded into west and southern Africa.

Munyeza acknowledges it's not easy operating in a country where hyperinflation — now under control after the government abandoned the local currency — made it almost impossible to keep accurate financial records.

But in the last three months their hotels in the capital Harare have been 70 percent full, more than double last year's occupancy rates.

"This time last year we were always planing for the next day to be worse than the day before," he said. "Now this month has been better than last month."