Vusumuzi Dube
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
ALL is set for the 16th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo that will run between Thursday and Saturday at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo.
The Expo is an annual event, showcasing the country’s vast tourism potential, while it attracts a wide range of local and international exhibitors, industry professionals, and visitors interested in exploring Zimbabwe’s unique attractions and investment opportunities.
Last Thursday, ZTA spokesperson, Mr Godfrey Koti said 100 buyers from various countries around the world will attend this year’s edition. The 100 are quality buyers from both established and emerging markets.
He said more than 40 buyers have arrived in Zimbabwe and are beginning their pre-tours of the country’s top resort places in preparation for the Expo.
As is customary, the buyers started their tours of the country’s resorts to explore potential business opportunities.
“The tours have already commenced in Nyanga, Vumba, Mutare, and Kariba. We have seen 312 exhibitors from regional and international markets registering to participate in this premier business exchange platform. The expo is expecting buyers from Zimbabwe’s traditional source markets, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, China, and Dubai,” he said.
Mr Koti expressed excitement about the positive response from the international community, especially from the critical source markets they work with.
Some of the key events that will take place on the sidelines of the Expo include the Aviation
Development Forum and the Buyers and Media Cocktail, Welcome Party and Food Expo on Thursday 12 October, Speed Networking Session and Tourism Investment Forum on Friday 13 October.
On Saturday 14 October the public day, there will be a Career Guidance Seminar and Family Fun Day.
The historic first edition of the Sanganai/ Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in 2008 opened a new chapter for African tourism as a whole. The Expo (formerly Zimbabwe International Travel Expo or Shanyai/ Vakatshani) was rebranded in 2008 and was initially hosted in Zimbabwe’s capital city Harare until it was moved to the country’s second-largest city Bulawayo in 2015.
The Government then said the decision to hold the event at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds in Bulawayo was laudable as there was more space.
The Expo is viewed as the vehicle through which tourism development in this part of the country will be boosted as Bulawayo and its surrounding environment are abundantly rich in tourism resources.
Apart from the two World Heritage Sites, the Matobo Hills and the Khami Ruins, the region prides itself in having a large cultural museum. Over the years the city has witnessed an increase in the number of tourist attractions and activities, as well as expansion of the tourism sector with a number of players coming on board.
The Expo which used to be a five-day event is now a three-day event, while the number of both local and international exhibitors has seen an enormous increase over the years.
The annual Expo organised by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has also evolved as it continues to showcase the widest variety of Africa’s best tourism products and attracts international visitors and media from across the world.
The premier travel and tourism showcase continues to be officially recognised on the world tourism calendar as it features local and international exhibitors including national tourism boards, embassies, international airlines, leading hotel chains and Government ministries.
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