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Speaking at the close of the third largest showcase in the world and the largest tourism exhibition in Africa, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Chief Executive Officer MrKarikoga Kaseke said the country and exhibitors had benefitted immensely from this year’s showcase.
“We have come, we have seen and we have conquered,” declared Kaseke.
“The indaba for us as Zimbabwe has been hugely successful and we can safely say it has been a resounding success. The operators that I am leading here are overly happy with the business they have made from the event. I have been going around and have seen all of them smiling without exception including Air Zimbabwe!” declared Kaseke.
He said with Air Zimbabwe mooting a return to the skies in order start flying in the region, the platform was especially sweet for them as they try and regain lost ground and engage the travel and tourism market yet again.
He also celebrated the fact that the doom and gloom associated with a struggling economy and political uncertainty was now a question of the past.
“”The good thing is that the questions of the past about the destination image of Zimbabwe were not asked at all this time around; not even once! We were networking and doing the core business of attracting investors into our tourism industry and did not have the distractions of questions about Zimbabwe’s image. That suggests that all that about our economy and the politics is behind us,” said Kaseke.
“”That is why the Minister (Cde Walter Mzembi) was a happy man. He did not have to deal with retrogressive political questions. There is no doubt in my mind that people here now know that Zimbabwe is safe and open for business,” he concluded.
Kaseke said he was also happy that there were several people engaged here that have expressed a keen interest to also be part of Zimbabwe’s own showcase, the Sanganayi/Hlanganani which shall take place in October in Harare.
“WTM (World Travel Market-London) were here and so was ITB (Asia). They too wanted to attract exhibitors to their exhibitions and so too were we. We are no exception and Sanganayi recruits exhibitors from the fair just like any other serious travel and tourism exhibition,” he said.
Exhibitors at the Munandi Tours and Avis stands who spoke to the media also expressed their joy at the turn of events.
“It was a very good event. It was one of the best in terms of quality because this time around we had very serious and determined customers. It was definitely a good year for us and our presence here was more than justified,” said Maria Makarati of Avis Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter