The Sunday News
Roberta Katunga, Senior Business Reporter
A LOCAL Organising Committee (LOC) has been set up to spearhead the planning of Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo to be held in Bulawayo in June.
ZTA will host the ninth annual edition of this event at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Hall 3 and 4 from 16-18 June. ZTA regional manager Mrs Novuyo Mathonsi who is also the LOC chairperson said the committee was formed to ensure the smooth flow of the exhibition and that all events that come with Sanganai/Hlanganani are well prepared for.
“As a region we decided to come up with the LOC to ensure that the return of the world travel expo to Bulawayo is a resounding success. We want to urge all tourism stakeholders in the city to exhibit and the populace to come and consume the products at the ZITF grounds,” said Mrs Mathonsi.
Mrs Mathonsi said the LOC was made up of four sub-committees that include the marketing department that is responsible for the pre and post tours for the buyers, the accommodation sector that will ensure there is enough up-to-standard accommodation for buyers and exhibitors as well as the transport and media and publicity sub-committees who are responsible for availing professional and dedicated transport service to the visitors and awareness on the exhibition respectively. She said the event was an opportunity to demystify traveling and holidaying myths to the domestic market.
“People always assume that only the rich can afford to travel or go on holiday but now that the event which brings together tourism operators will be in their backyard, we want this to be an interaction opportunity to demystify that myth,” she said.
Mrs Mathonsi said the LOC was offering incentives for women in tourism as well as first time exhibitors who will be exhibiting for free adding that all tourism stakeholders who will register to exhibit before 15 May will get a 50 percent discount.
According to the ZTA, 16 and 17 June will be business days while 18 June is open to the public as a family day.
Previous editions have seen the whole world converging on Zimbabwe in the form of high calibre international buyers as well as exhibitors.
The return of the expo to its founding venue is a result of the tourism authority’s quest to make it more productive and business focused, with enthusiasm among exhibitors as much bigger and affordable display spaces will be offered.
The tourism expo showcases the widest variety of Africa’s best tourism products, and attracts international visitors and media from across the world.
The expo is one of Africa’s premier tourism showcases, aimed at bringing international buyers and exhibitors under one roof.
The relocation of Sanganai/Hlanganani expo to Bulawayo has been done to stimulate the development and growth of tourism in different regions across the country and Bulawayo is expected to ride on the successes gained by the previous editions.
Bulawayo is set to benefit in the sectors of tourism, investor’s interest, and exposure for business to business integrations by playing host.
