410 companies, 8 countries register for Sanganai expo

Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter

MORE than 400 companies and eight countries have registered for the forthcoming 17th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo set from Bulawayo from 12 to 14 September.

In a press briefing in Harare on Wednesday, the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Barbra Rowdzi updated on the exhibitor registration including regional and international exhibitors.

“Exhibitor recruitment is already in progress and to date 410 companies have registered to participate at Sanganai/Hlanganani 2024. To date eight countries have registered to participate at the expo and will be bringing operators from their countries, these are (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Malawi, Tanzania, Embassy of Iran, Angola and Nigeria),” said Minister Rwodzi.

She said South Africa and Botswana have indicated that they will bring 10 operators each while Namibia will bring six operators.

Minister Rwodzi said they have been hosting this expo for the past five years in a bid to promote the tourism industry in Bulawayo especially the small operators whom they know are incapacitated to attend international travel shows leading to the initiative to bring buyers to their doorstep.

“We look forward to having a bigger expo this year with elaborate sustainable tourism initiatives and gastronomy tourism showcase. This is to ensure that the tourism value chain is represented at Sanganai 2024. The Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation Science and Technology Development will be for the first time feature Tourism Innovation Hubs.

“This initiative is aimed at supporting youth in academia and exposing their ideas to the global community. One of the key beneficiaries of this noble initiative is the production of fresh organic juices from indigenous fruits,” said Minister Rwodzi.

She said another exciting addition will be the Meetings Incentives Conferences and Events (MICE) masterclass aimed at capacitating all stakeholders on MICE tourism promotion.

“We are bringing MICE experts from across Africa to deliberate on pertinent issues regarding MICE tourism development and growth. We look forward to Sanganai/Hlanganani – World Tourism Expo being the key tourism exhibition in Africa as we are inviting other regional countries to take part and pitch their investment opportunities and tourism product portfolios,” said Minister Rwodzi.

@nyeve14