adminhost, yet again, to hundreds of local and foreign tourist wholesalers, buyers investors and tourists themselves under Sanganai/Hlanganani Africa World Travel and Tourism Fair.
Last year, the fair was held at the Harare Exhibition Park, better known as the Showgrounds, and the tourism and hospitality industry was ashamed of the ablution facilities. They were also not happy about the general decline in the infrastructure, which did not sit well with the exhibitors.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, the vanguard of the tourism and hospitality industry in Zimbabwe, had to use all tactics to avoid embarrassment.
This year, the exhibition will be held at the Harare International Conference Centre after the hospitality industry remonstrated with ZTA.
“That place has always been meant for farmers. The ablution facilities are probably good for farmers and not for tourists.
“We are just responding to the demands of the industry. The industry said ZTA could exhibit alone if the venue did not change.
“So we are being proactive. We are sensitive to the plight of the tourism industry so we have to move to the HICC.
“We know HICC is small but we have to make do with some tents. At least that place is good for the industry,” says ZTA chief executive Karikoga Kaseke.
The fair, to be held from October 8-12, has became the mainstay of Zimbabwe’s tourism exhibitions and perception management programmes as it brings in tourist wholesalers and buyers form recognised world markets.
With 300 local and international exhibitors from 16 countries having already confirmed their participation Zimbabwe is set for yet another successful exhibition.
Among the countries that have confirmed their bookings are Angola, Italy, Kenya, Morocco, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, Nigeria and South Sudan.
Among these are 30 foreign media houses, 26 tour operators, two airlines and 26 VIPs.
ZTA has also been crafty in inviting the Minister of Tourism from Greece, which has just taken over the European Union presidency or chairmanship, and that should make EU see the other side of Zimbabwe.
The new venue and the new thinking that has embraced the EU should be applauded as a way forward for an industry, which Government has identified as a fourth pillar of the country’s economic recovery programme.
When all is said and done, Zimbabweans from all walks of life should converge at HICC to market the tourism tapestries bestowed upon this country by God and the ancestors.
Online Reporter