The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
SEVERAL international buyers have confirmed their availability for the 15th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo.
The tourism showcase will be held in Bulawayo from October 13 to October 15 at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre.
This year’s Expo is expected to attract over 100 international buyers.
Mr Yunsuk Jin, a leading South Korean tour operator, confirmed that they had booked a pre-tour, which will see them visit the majestic Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Bulawayo and Harare.
He added that it was his hope that he would be able to explore the Expo and sell Zimbabwe’s tourism products in his home country and Asia at large.
“We are attending Sanganai/Hlanganani as buyers and looking forward to meeting the rest of the world at this tourism exchange. Before 2019, as a company we used to bring about 3 000 South Korean tourists into the country and we hope to continue after this year’s edition of the expo,” he said.
“We want to enhance our knowledge and experience about destinations. We have since booked to take part in a pre-tour that covers Bulawayo, Masvingo, the Eastern Highlands and Harare.”
With a company that already has a presence in Cape Town and Johannesburg, Mr Jin said his company has an 80 percent market share of operators that bring tourists to Africa.
“Zimbabwe is one of my favourite places in the world, and I am so excited at the opportunity to be at Sanganai/Hlanganani to reconnect with old friends and industry partners.
“I want to be able to pick as much information as possible and share it with friends and industry colleagues back at home,” added America-based Ms Kirsten Lebreux, who works with an operator that specialises in custom tours around the world.
The Expo is expected to continue to play a role in unifying the region into one multi-attraction tourist destination.
Sanganai/Hlanganani is the country’s major destination-marketing initiative.
The event attracts tourism journalists, including buyers comprising international travel agents and travel trade partners.
Participants are expected to be taken on familiarisation trips to different tourism sites across Zimbabwe.
