BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
MORE than 150 international buyers will headline the travel and tourism fair — Hlanganani/Sanganai — which kicks off in Bulawayo next week on Thursday, with local players geared to engage buyers and clinch deals.
The fair, which runs up to September 14 at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre, has become a permanent feature on Zimbabwe’s tourism calendar.
So far, over 250 registered local and international exhibitors have confirmed their participation, according to Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) head of corporate affairs Godfrey Koti.
Exhibitors range from tour operators, government institutions and non-government institutions.
“About 20 countries have confirmed their participation. these include India, China, Italy, Nigeria, Zambia, South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique,” Koti said.
“This is going to be a two-day event in which we seek to showcase and promote Zimbabwe for MICE, which is Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions.”
He said they were promoting Zimbabwe as a MICE destination where people converge.
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“We want to use this event to further promote that idea, especially with the fact that this exposition is registered under the United Nations World Tourism Organisation calendar,” Koti said.
Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) president Innocent Manyera said they were expecting the fair to be bigger and more exciting.
“Zimbabweans in the hospitality fraternity are geared to engage buyers and lock deals for a diverse country offering,” he said.
“We are happy with ZTA and our parent ministry in affording SMEs, youth as well as women affordable stands prices and also giving selected exhibitors free stands. This will spice up the whole fair.”
The HAZ boss said their members in Bulawayo and across the country were geared to participate to make the fair a memorable one.
Local organising committee member Butholezwe Nyathi said preparations for this year’s Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel Expo had gone a gear up and they were working around the clock to ensure the expo provides the best of what Zimbabwe has to offer.
“It’s a matter of days before the 12th edition kicks off and as a member of the Local Organising Committee we are delighted, the adrenaline is kicking in,” he said.
“We are looking forward to receiving tourists from the broader continent of Africa and beyond.
“On our part we are seized with making sure that our preparations are heightened so that people see the best that Zimbabwe has to offer in terms of the tourism product in its multi-faceted nature.”
Nyathi said one of the elements that they were excited about in this year’s event was the visit by three provincial tourism councils from South Africa.
“Those who know our tourism history will know that South Africa has been a traditional source market for tourists and that tourism is also playing its part in the ongoing re-engagement process,” he said.
“Tourism is also playing its part leveraging on the historical relations we have with South Africa all in an effort to ensure the sector contributes to the broader agenda under Vision 2030.
“So in essence Bulawayo looks forward to receiving Africa and the world.”
ZTA acting executive director (national conventional bureau) Pauline Ndlovu said about 15 international media houses were expected to attend.
Other highlights of the world tourism expo are speed networking scheduled for September 12 to 13.
There will be buyers’ tour on September 30.
