adminH-Metro Reporter
ZIMBABWE is targeting emerging markets such as Malaysia and Singapore, and various South East Asian countries, for a sustained traffic flow of tourists.
The country, through its main tourism instrument, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, successfully exhibited for the first time at the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The fair, which ran from March 17 to 19, attracted over 460 exhibitors with some agencies already including Zimbabwe on their packages.
In a statement, ZTA executive director for international marketing, Jeffreys Manjengwa, said the country must expect an influx of tourists.
“We’re looking at harnessing the traffic flow of tourists, from this part of the world, into a destination.
“This is in an effort to meet the country’s tourist arrivals targets.
“The market became aware of the existence of Africa as a continent and Zimbabwe as a major destination in Southern Africa,” said Manjengwa.
He is confident of a huge tourism boost in the next coming few months.
“Zimbabwe’s participation raised a lot of enthusiasm for the Malaysian market. Interestingly, the indication is that around 90% of the traffic, who came to the show, were not well aware of the destination or physical location of Zimbabwe.
“However, interestingly, the market is aware of our major icon, Victoria Falls.
“The greatest takeaway from this engagement is that awareness of destination Zimbabwe raised a lot of interest such that operators have already begun including Zimbabwe in their packages,” he said.
Thirty agencies expressed interest in collaborating with the ZTA to come on a destination familiarisation tour later this year during Sanganai-Hlanganani World Tourism Expo. The MATTA Fair is the leading ‘Consumers Travel Fair’ in Malaysia while about 100,000 visitors from Malaysia, ASEAN, and the rest of the world, attended the fair.
Online Reporter