The Sunday News
THE Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has said Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs) must register to improve visibility in the industry or risk losing business to international competitors.
A professional conference organiser, or conference company is an entity which specialises in the organisation and management of congresses, conferences and seminars.
ZTA National Convention Bureau director, Mrs Tessa Chikaponya, said registering was an important step in bidding for conferences because if a PCO is not registered then it cannot bid to host international conferences.
“We have been having workshops around the country trying to teach them on the importance of being registered. We noticed that the industry has been fragmented for a long time and we want to harness all that expertise and have a body for PCOs,” said Mrs Chikaponya.
Last year when Zimbabwe co-hosted the United Nations World Tourism Organisation general assembly with Zambia, a professional organiser was outsourced from South Africa as there were no local skills to meet the required specifications.
“The Professional Conference Organisers thrust is on MICE (Meetings, Incentives Conferencing and Exhibitions) tourism which has been very profitable and it is important for players in the sector to exchange ideas on how to take advantage of this growing concept,” said Mrs Chikaponya.
The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), a global meetings industry bloc representing specialists in organising, transporting and accommodating meetings and events, estimates that on average an international conference generates more than $1,5 million per year.
About 9 000 big international conferences happen every year.
South Africa has been the best performing African country, largely driven by its world class facilities.
ZTA chief executive, Mr Karikoga Kaseke, said Zimbabwe has a shortage of world class conference and convention facilities to host mega events.
“We do not have convention facilities in the country but we have identified good areas that we might purchase. We have been talking to Government about putting up that kind of infrastructure and we have a MoU with a Chinese firm to put up that facility,” said Mr Kaseke.
He said investment is needed in the construction of convention facilities although the problem with that is the return on investment which takes time unless the facility is put up together with a hotel or similar facility.
Meanwhile, Mrs Chikaponya said the country requires state of the art facilities to attract international meetings and PCOs in the country have to be empowered to bid for such meetings.
