Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe in Masvingo
Zimbabwe’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry must prioritise comprehensive insurance for conference venues, transport operators and visitors to safeguard the sector from potentially crippling liabilities, a Gauteng Convention Bureau official has said.
Gauteng Convention Bureau official Nonnie Kuneka said insurance should be treated as a fundamental component of event planning, particularly as Zimbabwe seeks to position itself as a competitive regional MICE destination.
Ms Kuneka was speaking during a MICE Masterclass session held under the theme “Building Zimbabwe’s Competitive MICE and Events Industry” in Masvingo.
She said tourism and events operators should not only focus on securing venues and attracting delegates, but must also ensure that visitors are adequately covered against unforeseen incidents.
“You do not book a venue for people to come into your country and you do not check if they have travel insurance. What if I faint here?
“Because I am from another country, it is not as simple as taking me to a hospital.
“There is a complicated process,” she said.
Her remarks come as Zimbabwe seeks to grow business tourism and attract more international conferences and events, making risk management and the protection of delegates increasingly important.
Ms Kuneka said travel and event insurance should form part of preparations for major conferences, while venue owners should also ensure their facilities are adequately insured.
“So travel and event insurance is important, and making sure that before people enter event venues, those places are insured.
“If anything happens, be it fire, we have to make sure everyone is insured. That’s what we do in my country (South Africa),” she said.
She said inadequate insurance cover could expose businesses to significant financial losses, particularly when incidents occur during large-scale conferences involving international delegates.
“Most venue and transport owners take this for granted and they are not insured.
“Therefore, when we have conferences, these issues are critical because if anything happens, your business is gone forever.”
Ms Kuneka said the issue was not merely about compliance, but about protecting the sustainability and credibility of the MICE industry.
The MICE sector has become an increasingly important component of destination marketing, with conferences and exhibitions generating demand across accommodation, transport, hospitality, restaurants and other tourism-related services.
Ensuring that the entire events ecosystem is adequately protected, therefore, is critical to maintaining Zimbabwe’s reputation as a safe and reliable destination for international business events.
