adminFitur is a meeting point for tourism professionals where they can establish lines of action, strategies and business alliances to energise and consolidate the tourism business, innovating to answer the changing demands of the market.
Over 10 434 exhibiting companies from 166 countries or regions and 209 260 visitors made up of tourism professionals and the general public, meet during Fitur to transform leisure into business and business into development for those destinations that welcome millions of travellers.
In a statement, Mr Kaseke said this year’s edition of the show seemed promising as the meetings they held had potential to increase tourist arrivals.
“Fitur is a good catchment area for the Spanish and other European markets which will be a major boost for Zimbabwe’s tourism and Spain is a market that has not been lucrative for us as a destination of late.
“However, this year’s edition of the show seems to be promising as the meetings we are having have been optimal trajectory of an upward trend of tourist arrivals,” he said.
He said through marketing efforts we can win back the European market which has been a major contributor in tourism receipts in the past.
“Fitur proved to be just the right platform to do just that and we will utilise that chance,” he said.
During the show, Spanish royal, Prince Felipe John Paul Alphonse, congratulated Zimbabwe on winning the bid to host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in 2013.
According to the statement, among multitudes of tourism ministers who were attending the show, the prince had a one on one with Zimbabwe Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister, Eng Walter Mzembi and UNWTO’s Secretary General Mr Taleb Rifai.
The latter introduced the tourism minister to the Prince in glowing terms citing his confidence in Zimbabwe’s suitability to host the global conference which in itself is an endorsement of the country being a safe and productive conferencing and investment destination.
In a statement Minister Mzembi confirmed the congratulations by the Spanish monarch saying it was an opportunity for Zimbabwe to boost the tourism industry.
“The Prince has heartily congratulated Zimbabwe on winning the bid to host the UNWTO and I had an opportunity to interface with him whereupon I extended an invitation to him to visit Zimbabwe which was well accepted.
“This indeed is indicative of the bi-lateral relations that are in existence between the two countries as this will not be the first time for a member of the Spanish monarchy to visit Zimbabwe as King Juan Carlos I has been to the country before,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, Dr Desire Sibanda, who is also the chairman of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) Resource Mobilisation Committee, has said Zimbabwe will successfully host the general assembly.
He said his committee was engaged in resource mobilisation to ensure that the conference was a resounding success.
“We are currently involved in mobilising resources for the conference.
“While Zambia and Zimbabwe will jointly host this conference, there is need for the entire continent to put heads together as we are one people,” he said.
He said planning for the hosting of the general assembly was going on smoothly.
Online Reporter