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Oliver Kazunga: Senior Business Reporter
THE 9th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Africa Expo roars into life in Bulawayo today with 236 exhibitors participating compared to 128 who graced the fair in Harare last year.
The expo is an annual tourism trade fair that showcases the widest variety of Africa’s best tourism products, and attracts international visitors and media from across the world.
Addressing local and international journalists during a press conference yesterday, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive officer Karikoga Kaseke said all was in place for the successful hosting of the prime tourism showcase.
“From an organisational point of view, we’re now ready to go. We’ve done everything and we’re prepared for the expo. Two weeks ago I said this year’s expo hangs in the balance due to lack of funding from the government and now it’s no longer hanging in the balance,” he said.
Kaseke said ZTA has secured “half’ of the funding the authority has requested from the government.
“We’ve received half of what we requested the government to give us and I think we’re on the verge of receiving the other half next week. This year’s Sanganai/Hlanganani has attracted 236 exhibitors which is an increase from last year in Harare where we had 128 companies,” he said.
The government directed that the expo be moved from Harare to Bulawayo after several exhibitors were turned away in Harare last year due to lack of space.
Kaseke said out of the 236 exhibitors, 35 are foreign from 11 countries.
Last year’s expo attracted 19 foreign exhibitors, said Kaseke adding that 128 buyers would be participating at this year’s event compared to 110 in 2015.
“In terms of the buyers, this year we’ve a total of 128, which is an increase from last year where we had 110 and they are coming from traditional markets of Europe and Africa especially South Africa,” he said.
The buyers are also from the Middle East, China, Asian Pacific and America.
“This year’s expo is focusing on culture because Bulawayo is a cultural city. We’ve also brought Sanganai/Hlanganani here (Bulawayo) as part of our efforts to resuscitate the tourism industry in this region,” said Kaseke.
He said the tourism sector in Bulawayo had been negatively affected as business in the region has always been low due to the prevailing economic climate in the country.
Kaseke said Bulawayo would in the next three consecutive years host the tourism expo as part of a number of initiatives meant to boost the tourism sector in Matabeleland.
He said a welcome reception would be held this evening at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre by the Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo. There are also a series of workshops and meetings lined up during the Sanganai/Hlanganani period where stakeholders in the tourism sector will discuss issues that affect the growth and development of the industry.
The tourism fair, which ends on Saturday, will be officially opened by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko tomorrow.
Online Reporter