Tourism players ready to market Zimbabwe

AS the annual Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) roars to life, tourism industry players are confident the event will provide the much-needed opportunity and platform to interact with potential clients and help market destination Zimbabwe.

Tourism operators and hospital players have been accused of shunning local expos such as agricultural shows but have been regular exhibitors at the annual trade fair held at the Trade Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo.

While the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry and Zimbabwe Tourism Authority will exhibit at the annual fair representing the industry, some operators will also be having their own stands.

The trade fair period running until April 29 is a huge business opportunity for the tourism sector which reaps high returns from accommodation which is usually at 100 percent capacity.

Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (Mice) are a business opportunity for the industry as they bring numbers and bookings.

Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) national president Mr Farai Chimba said the tourism industry is very much involved in the trade fair and the platform has been one of the premium shows to attend.

“As an industry, we are very much present at ZITF annually and this is from the backdrop of the A’sambeni drive some years ago. For most of us, this is a premium business platform not only for tourism but for us to interface with the industry that we work with from the domestic and international front,” he said.

Mr Chimba who is also Victoria Falls Hotel general manager said the trade fair is a platform to interface with a cross section of the economy as these are the clients that utilise tourism products.

“We interface with the mining industry, banking sector and others because all these are supporters in terms of our business where accommodation is concerned,” added Mr Chimba.

Employers Association for the Tourism and Safari Operators (EATSO) president Mr Ephias Mambume said ZITF is traditionally a golden opportunity for tourism players to showcase their products and sell Zimbabwe as a tourist destination with its various tourist attractions.

He said this year’s edition has recorded a commendable number of tourism players who have taken up stands at the show.

“A number of EATSO members from across the length and breadth are exhibiting at this year’s trade showcase. Going forward, we aspire to see exhibitions of this nature being hosted primarily to sell destination Zimbabwe,” said Mr Mambume.

He said historically, this exhibition has brought together tourism stakeholders in one place represented by the Ministry of Tourism and ZTA.

Mr Mambume who operates Mbumez Wabantu Leisure Centre with a bias towards promoting township tourism in Victoria Falls, said this affords operators the much-needed opportunity to interface with tourism authorities.

“We have also seen a number of innovative tourism products being exhibited at this show,” he added.

Shockwave Adventures proprietor Mr Philani Moyo said while his rafting company is not exhibiting this year, there is a need to intensify efforts to use the platform to market destination Zimbabwe and its tourism packages and products.