Chronicle Editor
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
THE Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) were the major winners at the just ended Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo after it scooped the Overall Winner and three other awards for their exhibition.
The awards were held during the Official Opening Ceremony last Friday, which was graced by the First Lady, Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa as guest of honour.
Dr Mnangagwa is also the country’s patron for tourism and hospitality.
The prestigious three-day Expo held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC), which is on its 17th edition ended on a high note yesterday and ran under the theme, Tourism and Peace.The expo is a collaboration between the Tourism and Hospitality Industry and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) seeking to showcase the widest variety of Africa’s best tourism products and attract international visitors and media from across the world.
This year, the expo attracted 408 companies and eight countries bringing operators from their countries, these being South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Tanzania, Embassy of Iran, Angola and Nigeria.
ACZ was awarded the Overall Winner and also scooped the winner in Best Zimbabwe Stand and Best Public Institution Stand, while it was the first runner-up in the Best Green Tourism Stand category.
Commenting on the awards they received, ACZ public relations and communications manager, Mr Tonderai Mangombe said they were excited about the awards they received.
“As ACZ, we are grateful for the awards that we got. Our efforts were not mainly towards the awards but achieving successful interactions and engagements during the Expo because you cannot talk about tourism without access, we want to ensure the public that Zimbabwe is accessible and whatever we do, we do it to provide access,” he said.
“On our stand this year, we brought all the airlines operating in Zimbabwe because we wanted people to know what packages they can get. Through interactions as well during the Expo, the airlines will know what packages to create to make aviation a better place,” he said.
South Africa Tourism walked away as the winner for the Best International Stand this year after also scooping the same award last year. Namibia was the first runner-up in this category and Iran the second runner-up.
In an interview during the tour of stands, South Africa Tourism Regional Trade Relations manager, Ms Bontle Madiba said: “We are very happy to be here in Zimbabwe, particularly in Bulawayo and here for the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo. We always come for the Expo and have good meetings every time.”
“This year, we are here with our tour operators, airlines and accommodation facilities representatives. We are here to showcase what South Africa has to offer to the tourism consumers and the business opportunities we also have.”
She said they were happy to have brought their airlines, Airlink and South African Airways (SAA), while they were also even more pleased to be learning that Fastjet has introduced more flights between Bulawayo’s Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport and Johannesburg’s OR Tambo International Airport, starting November 1.
Ms Madiba said Zimbabwe was one of the key markets for South Africa in terms of tourism. She said the Expo’s theme this year, Tourism and Peace was a true reflection of the continent working together for the growth of the tourism sector.
Fastjet Zimbabwe scooped the Best Airline Stand with Air Zimbabwe being first runner-up and Qatar the second runner-up.
In an interview, Fastjet Zimbabwe’s chief commercial officer, Ms Vivian Ruwuya announced the introduction of more flights between Bulawayo and Johannesburg, starting on November 1.
“The additional weekend flights that will be serviced by the airline’s Embraer ERJ145, aim to accommodate both business and leisure travellers between the two cities.
“The new schedule includes flights departing Johannesburg at 11.10am and arriving in Bulawayo at 12.30pm. The return flight departs Bulawayo at 1pm, landing in Johannesburg at 2.20pm. With these added flights, FastJet’s weekend service will expand to 15 flights,” she said.
Currently, the airline operates flights from Bulawayo at 8.30am and 6.10pm. She said they were one of the biggest contributors towards tourism in Zimbabwe as a Zimbabwean carrier operating on the domestic market and also regionally.
Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) scooped the Best Gastronomy Stand award, with Holiday Inn Bulawayo the first runner-up and University of Zimbabwe (UZ) the second runner-up.
Among other accolades, Best Training Institution Stand: UZ), Best Tourism Related Facility Stand: Africa Premier, Best First
Time Exhibition Stand: KwaMahla Village
Best Provincial Stand: Matabeleland South.
Best Mice Stand: Lili Casablanca, Best Tour Operator Stand: Malachite, Best Car Hire Stand: Easy Go car hire, Best Green Tourism Stand: Environmental Management Agency (EMA), Best Community
Based Tourism Stand: Jairos Jiri.
Best Rural, Culture, Heritage Stand: Umzingwane Rural District Council, Best Sport Tourism Stand: Cricket Zimbabwe Best Publicity Association Stand: Masvingo Publicity Association.Best Religious Tourism Stand: Bindura RDC, Best Hotel Stand Cresta, Best Safari Camp Stand: Africa Premier.
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