Online Reporter
Zimbabwe has won the bid to host the 2028 Continental Association of African Neurosurgical Societies (CAANS) Conference in Harare, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to position itself as a competitive destination for international conferences and business events.
The successful bid was announced in Marrakech, Morocco, on Friday last week. The conference is expected to attract approximately 1 000 regional and international delegates, bringing together neurosurgical professionals and stakeholders to exchange knowledge, share research, and advance neurosurgical training and patient care across Africa.
The achievement reinforces Zimbabwe’s commitment to developing Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism as a key driver of destination marketing, investment and economic growth.
With established conference facilities, hotels, transport services and a diverse range of tourism experiences, Harare provides a platform for hosting international professional gatherings.
MICE tourism generates benefits beyond the conference venue, stimulating demand for accommodation, restaurants, transport, tour operators and other tourism-related services.
The anticipated influx of delegates also presents opportunities to promote Zimbabwe’s attractions through pre- and post-conference tours, extending visitor stays and increasing expenditure within the local economy.
Commenting on the achievement, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive officer, Dr George Manyaya, said the successful bid demonstrated Zimbabwe’s growing capacity to compete for international business events.
“Zimbabwe is strengthening its capacity to attract and secure international conferences through a deliberate and coordinated approach to MICE tourism,” he said.
“We now have a fully-fledged bidding and business development department that is working flat out, through a whole-of-government approach, to identify opportunities, pursue competitive bids and bring more international conference business to Zimbabwe.
“Winning the CAANS Conference demonstrates that Zimbabwe is not only a destination of extraordinary attractions, but is also ready to host major international professional gatherings. We have the facilities, hospitality, expertise and tourism experiences to deliver memorable events while creating economic opportunities for our people and businesses.
“This latest success brings the total number of conference bids won by Zimbabwe so far to six, reflecting the growing momentum behind our efforts to position the country as a preferred MICE destination. Our focus is to convert these wins into tangible benefits through increased visitor arrivals, foreign currency earnings, employment creation and greater business for enterprises across the tourism value chain.”
The successful bid highlights the importance of collaboration between Government, the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, professional associations and the private sector.
The Zimbabwe Association of Neurological Surgeons, a member of CAANS, will play an important role in supporting professional collaboration and the successful delivery of the conference.
The hosting of the CAANS Conference aligns with National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and the Vision 2030 agenda, supporting efforts to grow tourism, attract investment, create employment and promote sustainable economic growth.
As preparations progress, the conference presents an opportunity to showcase Zimbabwe’s hospitality and tourism offerings, strengthen its international profile and translate business tourism into tangible benefits for local enterprises and the wider economy.
