adminFrom Oliver Kazunga in Harare
THE 7th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Fair started on a high note with exhibitors and buyers expressing confidence in reaping meaningful benefits at the fair despite the withdrawal of some potential exhibitors and buyers over Ebola fears.
More than 30 international buyers have pulled out of this year’s tourism fair that ends tomorrow over fears of the Ebola virus while hotel bookings worth $6 million have been cancelled countrywide since the deadly virus was detected in some West African countries in July.
This came as tourism operators in Victoria Falls reported losing an estimated $1,5 million in potential revenue after Eboal fears forced cancellation of bookings for an insurance conference held in the resort town early this month.
Among African countries that were supposed to attend, only Botswana would not make it due to “technical problems”.
Some of the exhibitors and buyers at the Sanganai/Hlanganani expo said yesterday that they were receiving enquiries from different players in the tourism sector.
“Africa is very big in terms of tourism. The fact that some of the buyers have withdrawn, to us it may not have a bigger impact. Ebola is in West Africa and Southern Africa is safe. This is why we’re here and we’ve received enquiries from a number of potential businesses in the tourism industry,” said tourism specialist Ahmed Hassan from the Egyptian Tourism Authority.
He said his country had a wide range of tourism packages that they were marketing to the local tourism industry.
An official from the Embassy of Indonesia Aswid Indririski echoed similar sentiments and commended the Zimbabwean government for putting in place Ebola surveillance measures.
“Although the withdrawal of some buyers and exhibitors has some negative impact in terms of the objectives of the fair, we’re happy that we’re receiving enquiries from those that are participating at this year’s Sanganai,” she said.
The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has said this year’s tourism event was not about quantity but quality taking into consideration that the expo had been repositioned with meetings on business-to-business being organised for buyers and exhibitors.
An official from Namibia Tourism Board said their participation at Sanganai/Hlanganani tourism expo was meant to promote tourism within the region.
“Namibia is a member of the Regional Tourism Organisation of Southern Africa (Retosa) so we’re participating to boost tourism in the region. It’s unfortunate that some of the buyers and exhibitors have withdrawn their participation at this year’s fair,” said the official.
Since the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa and other parts of the world, no Ebola has been detected in Zimbabwe.
Among those that cancelled their participation at Sanganai /Hlanganani over Ebola scare were 11 buyers from Europe while the others were from Asian countries like China and Malaysia.
Online Reporter