Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe
Zimpapers Business Hub
THE 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo, set for Masvingo next month has to date attracted 89 international buyers, signalling growing global interest in Zimbabwe’s tourism offerings.
This comes as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to expand inbound tourism and unlock the sector’s contribution to economic growth.
The expo will run from September 9-12 at the Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre in Masvingo.
Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo is Zimbabwe’s flagship international tourism trade fair, organised annually by the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).
It brings together tourism operators, international buyers and other industry stakeholders from across the globe, providing a critical platform for Zimbabwe to showcase its tourism products, attract visitors and investment, forge partnerships and open new markets.
Tourism remains a key pillar of Zimbabwe’s economy, with its extensive wildlife, cultural heritage, hospitality, natural landscapes and adventure offerings providing significant opportunities for foreign currency generation, employment creation, investment and community development.
Against this background, the growing number of international buyers at Sanganai presents local tourism operators with an opportunity to convert exposure into concrete business deals, bookings and partnerships.
Speaking during a Sanganai webinar held yesterday under the theme, “Networking to Profit: Leveraging Sanganai/Hlanganani Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo as a Catalyst for Business Success – Strategies for Growth,” ZTA marketing division representative Mrs Arvil Chimedza said 89 international buyers had confirmed their participation to date.
“To date, we have 89 international buyers that have confirmed participation at Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo,” she said.
The confirmed buyers are drawn from key source markets including Australia, China, Japan, India, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, among others.
The figure spotlights the growing international reach of the expo and gives Zimbabwean tourism operators a valuable opportunity to engage directly with buyers from markets that can drive increased visitor arrivals and tourism receipts.
During the webinar, tourism players were apprised of the benefits of participating in the expo and urged to maximise the opportunity to aggressively market Zimbabwe as a prime tourism destination.
Industry players were also encouraged to approach Sanganai not merely as an exhibition platform, but as a business networking opportunity capable of generating bookings, partnerships and access to new markets.
“Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe Tourism Expo is a global platform that attracts the best in the sector.
“Therefore, it is a platform that offers a gateway to growth, a platform for showcasing products and services, networking and expanding markets,” said Mrs Chimedza.
“The expo offers access to diverse buyers and investors and this puts your business in front of an international audience in one place.”
The expo comes at a time when Zimbabwe is seeking to deepen tourism’s role in economic transformation by increasing international arrivals, promoting domestic tourism and encouraging greater investment across the tourism value chain.
Beyond direct tourism earnings, increased visitor numbers support a wide range of businesses, including accommodation facilities, restaurants, transport operators, tour companies, curio traders, farmers and producers supplying the hospitality industry.
The sector also provides opportunities for communities located around major tourism destinations to benefit from increased economic activity.
Key events lined up for this year’s expo include a tourism investment conference, a Scholastica conference, speed networking sessions, a music carnival and gastronomy activities. These activities are expected to broaden the expo’s appeal beyond conventional business-to-business engagements by showcasing Zimbabwe’s diverse tourism, cultural and culinary offerings.
Last year, the expo was held in Mutare for the first time outside Bulawayo under the rotational system.
The decision to host the expo in Masvingo this year aligns with the National Development Strategy, which emphasises devolution and inclusive development.
By decentralising major national and international events, the Government seeks to stimulate economic activity in previously marginalised regions while ensuring that the benefits of tourism are spread beyond the traditional tourism hubs. Hosting Sanganai in Masvingo is expected to provide local businesses and communities with increased opportunities to benefit from the influx of tourism stakeholders, while giving international buyers exposure to the province’s tourism potential.
The rotational approach also supports the broader national objective of attaining an upper-middle-income economy by 2030, with tourism expected to play an increasingly important role in employment creation, investment mobilisation, export earnings and inclusive economic growth.
