‘Sanganai/Hlanganani is open to all’

Sunday Mail Reporter

THE 15th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo achieved all the set targets, though there is still scope to grow the show.

Running under the theme “Thinking Investment — Explore Zimbabwe Tourism Opportunities”, the expo was held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo from October 13 to 15.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) said the event went a long way in boosting the country’s tourism recovery plan following a two-year setback due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year’s edition attracted over 270 exhibitors, surpassing the initial target of 250.

More than 100 buyers from different parts of the world also took part in the showcase.

South Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda, Dubai, DRC, the United States and the United Kingdom were some of the countries represented at the expo. “There is room for Sanganai to grow. I am sure we could have had more people this year had they not been restricted by budgets, having come out of Covid-19. However, I feel, going forward, we need to attract more than the tourism operators themselves,” said ZTA chief executive, Ms Winnie Muchanyuka.

This was the first physical edition since the global pandemic started in 2020.

The exhibition came at a time tourism is on a growth trajectory following the relaxation of Covid-19-induced travel restrictions and lockdowns across the globe.

“I was happy to see some institutions that support tourism, for example, banking institutions and the traffic safety council. However, we would like to see a lot more of these operators that support tourism come out and be part of this engagement. This platform was not just for tourism operators to showcase what they have, but was also a platform for those who support tourism to begin to make synergies and deals. We want Sanganai to grow to a stage where we occupy all halls at the ZITF (Zimbabwe International Trade Fair) grounds,” added the ZTA boss.

Ms Muchanyuka said the expo only showcased a smaller fraction of what the sector has to offer.“The quality of exhibitions here was impressive. Companies went out of their way to make sure they delivered good stands and a good show. There were a few glitches that may not have been apparent to those who were visiting but as ZTA, we took note where we faltered and will rectify these in coming shows.”

The expo had packed and intense business engagement sessions.

Sanganai/Hlanganani is the country’s major destination-marketing initiative.

The premier business exchange event presents a perfect opportunity for developing quality business relationships and partnerships with world tourism players. “Our objectives include unpacking tourism investment opportunities and exploring new frontiers,” said Ms Muchanyuka. The ZTA boss said she is happy with various initiatives being taken to promote local tourism. The strategies include the ZimBho campaign, which has led to the growth of domestic tourism as evidenced by a general increase in average hotel occupancies in resort areas.

The launch of Visit Zimbabwe and Meet in Zimbabwe campaigns, both targeted at attracting international travel and business tourism to Zimbabwe, is also paying dividends.

Global tourism players who attended the expo expressed satisfaction with the country’s tourism products. Buyers expressed interest in forming synergies with local tourism players.

Delegates were taken on familiarisation trips to different tourism sites across the country. They included Victoria Falls, Hwange, the Eastern Highlands and Masvingo.

Zimbabwe is endowed with diverse natural heritage attractions, vast wildlife species, perfect weather conditions and food.

“Zimbabwe is fantastic. I really didn’t know the country is this rich when it comes to tourism. I now have something concrete to sell to my clients when I talk about Zimbabwe,” said Nigerian travel and tour agent, Ms Julie Tongrit.

“I am looking forward to working with companies here to promote Zimbabwe. The brief stay has been an eye-opener and I have met several players in local tourism, with whom I hope we will forge solid ties,” said a United Arab Emirates delegate, Mr Zaim Muhammad.

He, however, urged locals to market other beautiful destinations in the country, instead of focusing only on Victoria Falls.

“I have been to 75 countries and the reason for coming to Zimbabwe was to explore the beauty of this country. I landed in Harare and had a beautiful experience, then came here (Bulawayo) for the expo. I have met several exhibitors. “The Zimbabwean experience has been amazing. I am going to send a group of businesspeople here (Zimbabwe) when I get back home. People have a wrong perception when they hear about Zimbabwe. However, I would like to assure them that this is a safe place. We have gone out in the night with no incident,” he said.

For years, Sanganai/Hlanganani has played a role in unifying the region into one multi-attraction tourist destination.

Major events at the expo included the Tourism Investment Forum; the Sports Tourism Symposium; the Minister’s Roundtable; and a music concert dubbed Sanganai Family Music Festival, which was headlined by
South African music stars Big Zulu and Costa Titch. Zimbabwe is currently implementing the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy that was launched in 2020.

The sector seeks to achieve the US$5 billion tourism economy by 2025.