Zim scoops tourism award at Beijing Expo

Zimbabwe at the just-ended Beijing International Travel Expo.
The group, which included Miss Zimbabwe Malaika Mushandu, Miss Tourism Zimbabwe Rumbidzai Mudzengere, Miss Universe Zimbabwe, Miss Lisa Morgan and Miss Talent Nadia Gori did not come back empty-handed.
They scooped the “Best Organised Booth Award”, at the expo, which attracted 103 countries.
Speaking at a Press conference in Harare yesterday, Nadia said although the competition was stiff, Zimbabwe clinched one of the top accolades.
With the launch of the new brand in various source markets including the Asian market; there has been a renewed interest from the Chinese market towards the destination Zimbabwe.
There is recognition of excellence in travel and tourism promotion.
The Zimbabwe Stand which was constituted by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), Zimbabwe International Travel Tours (ZITT), Air Zimbabwe, Silver Tours and Miss Zimbabwe office made a striking and organised impact in packaging the destination to suit the needs of each and every visitor who came to the stand.
However, the accolade comes as a special recognition and appreciation of the efforts as well as hard work invested by the country in actively promoting tourism at the BITE Expo this year.
Commenting on this achievement, the ZTA spokesperson Mr Sugar Chagonda said the accolade was an endorsement of the authority’s arketing strategies.
“As the authority and nation at large, we are excited at this achievement. We are proud of our representatives particularly the national queens who have lived truly to the nation’s expectations of being tourism ambassadors,” Chagonda said.
Meanwhile, several groups of tour operators, investors, celebrities, media and general participants have pledged to come to Zimbabwe, “A World of Wonders” during the Sanganai /Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair in October.
Different packages have been designed to cater for this market to allow them to experience the best destination Zimbabwe can offer in its tourism product.
Launched in 2004, the BITE is both a business to business and consumer exhibition organised by the Beijing Tourism Administration (BTA) and Conference & Exhibition Management Services (Private) Limited (CEMS). The fair attracts more than 82 countries and regions as well as about 25 Chinese provinces and cities.
It also attracted more than 796 exhibitors, 215 buyers and 30 000 trade visitors.