by Brian Mutonhori
The 11th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel Expo has kicked off today at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) in Bulawayo, with an early morning jam-packed speed networking session attesting to the expo being Africa’s premier business exchange.
Sanganai/Hlanganani -World Tourism Expo is an annual Tourism Trade Fair organized by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA). It showcases the widest variety of Africa’s best tourism products, and attracts international visitors and media from across the world.
The guest of honour at the official opening ceremony scheduled for later today is Vice President, Retired General Constantino Chiwenga.
According to ZTA, to date, 325 exhibitors and 23 countries registered for participation. The expo is set to run until September 8 and has attracted various tourism stakeholders that include local exhibitors, international buyers and sellers from key source markets across the globe.
Exhibiting at this year’s edition, an African tourism player from Ghana, Voyages Afriq representative, Kojo Bentum Williams took to microblogging site, Twitter to share his excitement.
“#VoyagesAfriq#Sanganai2018. With the Deputy CEO of @ghanatourismGTA at #Sanganai2018,” tweeted Williams.
A local first time exhibitor, IntergasZim represented by managing director and founder, F Chitanda said they were excited to be at this year’s event and expressed better business engagements.
In an update released late yesterday, the local tourism body, the ZTA revealed that this year’s exhibition was oversubscribed.
“Final touches done! All set! Just a few hours to go and #Sanganai2018 will roar to life! With all exhibition space fully booked, this year’s edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo will mark a significant point in Zimbabwe’s tourism economy.”
Since the coming in of the new dispensation under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa in November 2017, Zimbabwe has rejuvenated itself to be a premier world class tourist destination and the arrival of more buyers and sellers at this year’s expo is a clear sign of confidence from the international tourism market.
The country’s tourism hotspots include Mana pools, Bumi Hills, Kariba Dams, Eastern Highlands, Gonarezhou, Masvingo, Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Binga, Matopo Hills and Bulawayo.
