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Columbus Mabika Herald Reporter
Government has directed the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry to hold its next edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Bulawayo to ensure fair economic opportunities for all towns and cities.
Officially opening the 8th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Harare over the weekend, Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the expo was an important national event whose economic benefits should be spread to other centres.
“Government thereby directs that the next edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani be held in Bulawayo at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre, otherwise known as the Trade Fair Grounds, where there are adequate facilities.
“When more appropriate exhibition centres are developed in places like the Victoria Falls and elsewhere, Zimbabwe will be able to migrate this economic activity and spread its benefits to other centres,” he said.
The last eight editions of the expo were all in Harare, but VP Mnangagwa said there must be more than “one jewel in the crown” to undo the capital’s “Bambazonke” mentality.
Decentralisation, he further said, was important in promoting the growth of businesses of all types in other parts of the country as well as connecting them to the whole world.
VP Mnangagwa pledged Government’s commitment to fund the tourism expo to ensure that it grew to the level of similar fairs elsewhere on the continent.
“Government has repeatedly emphasised the critical importance of tourism to the national economy and benchmark exercises to make the industry equated to other countries have been indicated,” he said.
He also hailed the strides being made by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development in liberalising the air transport system in addition to the rehabilitation of national highways, which he said contributed to tourism development.
Zimbabwe will participate in all upcoming international travel shows across the world.
The 2015 edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganai was held from June 18-20.
Online Reporter