limukaniSimba Jemwa, Online Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Tourism authority has urged Bulawayo-based content producers, creatives and other stakeholders to produce content to promote the region and use social media to promote a positive image of the upcoming Hlanganani/Sanganai World Tourism Expo.
The tourism showpiece will be held in the city at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair between 13 and 15 October with at least 250 industry players expected to participate.
Speaking on the side-lines of a media briefing on Tuesday, ZTA Head of Corporate Affairs Mr Godfrey Koti said the expo needed “all hands on deck” to make it not only a trade success, but also to encourage and develop tourism destinations in the region.
Mr Koti said Bulawayo and the entire Matabeleland region is abound with talented creatives and content producers who have the skills to identify and market the many tourism opportunities in the region.
“In this part of the country we have many creatives and content producers who can and should promote the tourist destinations that are dotted around the region. As the ZTA, we urge them to use their skill sets to improve the image of not just the region but the country at large as we head into Hlanganani/Sanganai.
“The ZTA believes that creatives, content producers and the various other stakeholders must endeavour to find innovative means to engage with the world at large via positive content production and social media. In this age of YouTube and social platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, social media influencers may be engaged to promote a more positive image of the state. The ZTA believes that websites of creatives, content producers and industry players alike should be made interactive and user-friendly. Mobile applications and social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, etc. should be harnessed as a quick and cost effective medium for tourism marketing,” Mr Koti added.
The ZTA called on locals to proactively leverage the potential of social media in marketing and promotion of the region, Hlanganani/Sanganai and the country at large, both in the domestic as well as in the overseas markets. @RealSimbaJemwa
Online Reporter