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Nqobile Bhebhe, Rutendo Nyeve in Nyanga
Manicaland Province is this week stepping into the global spotlight as it hosts the 18th edition of the Hlanganani/Sanganai/ Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo at the Mutare Sports Club marking the first time Zimbabwe’s premier travel showcase will be staged outside Bulawayo or Harare.
The move signals more than just a change of venue.
It’s a bold strategy to position Manicaland as a powerhouse of Zimbabwean tourism, showcasing its unrivalled natural beauty and cultural wealth to international buyers, investors and travel industry leaders.
The edition runs under the theme ‘Developing Sustainable Tourism Development- Our Future’From the misty Bvumba Mountains and mystical Chimanimani ranges to the breathtaking Mtarazi Falls the second highest in Africa Manicaland’s landscapes offer experiences that set it apart from traditional destinations.
International buyers and tourists are traversing the province sampling attraction sites ahead of the exhibition.
On Monday, Zimpapers News crew encountered buyers and tourists from Netherlands, South Africa and China.
Government and private partners pulled out all the stops to ensure the province shines.
The Hlanganani/Sanganai/ Kumbanayi World Tourism Expo is organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry in collaboration with Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) and is regarded as the country’s premier tourism and travel trade event, attracting exhibitors and buyers from across Africa and beyond.
The Expo (formerly Zimbabwe International Travel Expo or Shanyai/ Vakatshani) was initially hosted in Harare until it was moved to 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 significantly boosted the city’s tourism visibility and offered stakeholders valuable opportunities to market their products and services.
The 2025 Expo is particularly significant as it comes on the heels of the launch of the National Tourism and Hospitality Policy (2025–2030), a transformative framework that positions tourism at the centre of Zimbabwe’s economic development strategy.
Pictures by Eliah Saushoma
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