The Sunday Mail
COMING on the back of a successful election and the birth of the Second Republic, the 11th edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo was befitting.
The Tourism Ministry and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) have kept the machine running despite setbacks such as inadequate funding and negative publicity from hostile nations.
Following the coming in of the new political dispensation and sound destination marketing efforts through events like Sanganai, the best arrival results in over a decade are presently being witnessed in the country.
The forthcoming Harare International Carnival is now set to run from October 15 to 20 and more arrivals are expected during that period.
Officially opening this year’s edition of the tourism expo, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga acknowledged roles played by tourism marketing events.
“In Africa, South Africa has taken the lead in perfecting their marketing and creative platform, through Africa’s Travel Indaba, something that is possible. The Government of Zimbabwe is committed to increasing funding support for the tourism sector in general and the ZTA’s marketing and development programmes in particular,” said VP Chiwenga.
“I am confident that we can increase our tourist arrivals three-fold from the current 2,4 million to well over seven million in the next five years.”
ZTA chief executive Dr Karikoga Kaseke noted that Vision 2025 is going to position Zimbabwe as a top destination, not only in the region but across the continent. The vision is not far-fetched considering that Zimbabwe is home to one of the World’s Seven Wonders, the mighty Victoria Falls and also boasts of numerous world class attractions.
“The number of visitors we have received since November last year is encouraging. Also, events like Sanganai are certainly benefiting from the conducive environment that has been created by President Mnangagwa’s Government through the Zimbabwe is open for business drive,” said Dr Kaseke
Buyers and exhibitors
Sanganai/Hlanganani continues to break new ground, offering buyers and exhibitors a sound platform to engage. Lucrative deals, some that have already come to fruition, were sealed in Bulawayo.
Various exhibitors in accommodation, travel and tour businesses put up superb displays that were commended by VP Chiwenga.
Senior manager and head of the Middle East international buyers delegation, Faris Jahic, said the expo gave a clear picture of what is on offer in Zimbabwe tourism.
“The exhibitions were spot on. We knew what to expect before embarking on our post Sanganai tour for actual appreciation of the tourism product.”
Zim’s tourism products
The Middle East delegation sampled the cosy Hwange Safari Lodge package which includes going for morning and evening game drives in the Hwange National Park main camp.
Prior to this, they had visited Matopo Hills.
The adventure came to a climax when the tour took them to Victoria Falls where they went through various memorable activities, among them lion and elephant encounters, a visit to the crocodile farm, the Boma experience and falls view.
In Harare, the buyers went to the national shrine.
“Zimbabwe sells unique and amazing products, especially for the Middle East market. I don’t think they have been exposed to such kind of activities. We are in Victoria Falls and the things to do are just too much for one destination,” noted Jahic.
“The national parks are well maintained and not too expensive. The tourism is well-organised, safe and clean. The hotel stuff are professional and attentive, which is very important. This tour has made it easy for us to add Zimbabwe to our packages.”
The delegation promised to help dispel the negative messages about the country.
“No single tourist has told me bad stuff about Zimbabwe. The only negative news we get is from the media. However, word of mouth is the best marketing and we are going to encourage our friends, family, travel and tour operators to visit Zimbabwe,” vowed Jahic.
His counterpart and travel manager from the United Arab Emirates, Mohammed Al Balooshi weighed in, “My impression on Zimbabwe changed as soon as I landed at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. The people are friendly. I’m Muslim and security conscious but I must confess I have never felt this safe in any destination.
“The Zimbabwe tourism package is splendid. I will add this country on my brochures as one of the must visit destinations. However, there are some areas that still need to be addressed. For instance, some of the tour staff need to be taught the importance of always dressing accordingly. Also, in as much as you want to keep the falls natural, there are some of its sections that are dangerously open and requiring barricades.”
The city that never sleeps
Devine Assignments-owned club, Private Lounge, was top on most of the international buyers to-do-list during the night.
But Bulawayo has of late upped its game in improving night life options.
Stiff competition between joints like the aforesaid Private Lounge, Crystal Night Club, Club Connect, Copa Cubana, Club 263, Zara Lounge, Red Cafe and Cosmopolitan Night Club has made the country’s second largest city extremely vibrant.
Daring international buyers got a lovely township experience in shebeens situated in various locations of Bulawayo. However, there is need for club owners to improve their online and social media marketing since tourists mainly use the internet when searching for entertainment options.
Economic benefits
It is always difficult to calculate the exact amount of money directly injected into the system through such events but every stakeholder got a piece of the cake.
Healthy sums of cash exchanged hands for services and goods sold by both informal and formal traders.
Hotels and lodges were booked to capacity. Travel and tour operators registered brisk business. Booze and artefacts sales shot through the roof.
Visa compliant point-of-sale machines were part of most traders’ assets.
Conversely, there is a group making a killing from selling disused hyper-inflation notes to tourists in Vic Falls. A set of the notes ranging between $100 000 to $10 trillion is being sold to visitors for prices pegged between US$5 and US$50.
Late VP Joshua Nkomo honoured
The 11th edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani saw the launch of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Tourism Trails in honour of the fallen liberation war icon. The event, graced by VP Chiwenga, also witnessed the launch of the Joshua Nkomo Legacy Foundation.
