The Sunday News
Nqobizitha Dhlamini Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe International Trade Fair has commended the local hospitality industry for ensuring visitors coming for the trade fair that starts on Tuesday and ends on Saturday have secure accommodation. Each year during the trade fair period, accommodation is usually a problem with hotels and lodges fully booked and some guests failing to secure places to stay.
However, ZITF Company general manager Mrs Nomathemba Ndlovu said most exhibitors and dignitaries had indicated that they had secured safe accommodation during the event.
“We are pleased to note that all our stakeholders have indicated that they secured accommodation for their stay in Bulawayo while some operators have indicated that they still have available accommodation,” she said.
Mrs Ndlovu said private home owners were also playing a major role towards ensuring the visitors had accommodation.
“We are also aware that private home owners were hospitable enough to open up their homes to the expected out of town visitors and exhibitors although we urge them to register with the ZTA regional office so as to maintain international standards for all our domestic and foreign business visitors,” she said.
Past chairman of the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe Matabeleland region Mr Brian Nyakutombwa, who is also Cresta Churchill general manager confirmed that most city hotels and lodges were ready for the visitors.
“The hotels and the lodges in the city are ready to receive our guests as well as cater for the different business networking events which will be running alongside the international trade exhibition,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority regional manager, Mrs Novuyo Mathonsi, said a number of homes had already passed the international standard test needed for them to accommodate visitors during the event.
“A sizeable list of executive private homes which are available to accommodate visitors to this year’s ZITF have been inspected by us and they do meet the international standards. Therefore, there is enough accommodation for anyone wishing to attend ZITF 2015 including those who have not secured it yet as they can contact ZTA or Ecological Safaris who have been instrumental in assisting participants in securing accommodation,” she said.
Ecological Safaris and Travel consultant Ms Nimisha Daya said there were a number of lodges and private homes registered with them.
“Any visitor who wants to come to ZITF should just contact us and we assure them they will get something suitable for their unique needs.
This year accommodation will be readily available than previous years as more private home owners have upgraded their properties in line with international standards and have since registered,” she said.
Last year the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Cde Walter Mzembi said the people of Zimbabwe needed to emulate South Africa as the neighbouring country had five star private homes which was a plus for the economy and the tourism sector.
His statement came after the Mayor of Bulawayo appealed to the Government to build more hotels and conference centres in the city.
