The Sunday Mail
Livingstone Marufu
THE Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has heightened preparations for the annual Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo, with indications that 103 out of the targeted 180 companies have registered to showcase their products in Bulawayo next month.
Last year’s chapter of the premier tourism showcase attracted 128 exhibitors. This year, the fair will run from June16 to June 18.
ZTA head of corporate affairs Mr Sugar Chagonda told The Sunday Mail Business, “Exhibitor recruitment is in progress; to date 103 companies have registered to participate at Sanganai/Hlanganani, registration is still in progress.
“Our target is to attract at least 180 companies. Last year we had 128 companies at Sanganai including sharing exhibitors.
“At least 14 foreign exhibitors from countries like India, Zambia, Malawi and South Africa have registered for this year’s edition.
“So far we have 102 buyers from across the globe mainly from Europe, Asia and Africa. We still have some vacant space and hope in the next few weeks it would have been taken up,” said Mr Chagonda.
Sanganai is famed for attracting high-calibre international buyers as well as exhibitors.
Mr Chagonda said the ninth edition of Sanganai is expected to ride on the successes gained by the previous editions.
ZTA is expecting 16 international media houses from source markets and bloggers who are involved in tourism writing. The event will target exhibitors in accommodation, airlines, tertiary institutions, hunting and safari operators, Government institutions and parastatals.
“The world expo allows us to meet and network with exhibitors, visiting buyers, investors and suppliers of the tourism services from all over the world.
“It also establishes strategic business partnership with tourism players across the globe; derive value from well structured, themed and informative international tourism conferences and workshops.
“Sanganai/Hlanganani expo makes governments network across ministerial activities and establish strategic partnerships with other destinations or cities.
“Besides a lot of business and network opportunities during exhibition hours a lively social and cultural exchange parallel to the exhibition and after hours providing more opportunity to network,” he said.
The expo was declared a national event in 2007. ZTA had set up pre-arranged meetings between buyers and exhibitors to ensure that maximum benefits are drawn.
The Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre, the venue of this year’s expo, offers an extensive exhibition centre which encompasses a 17-hectare site situated near Bulawayo’s CBD.
This year’s expo will run under the theme “Africa’s premier business exchange” which will see exhibitors exchanging business to business ideas with their counterparts.
