Sanganai/Hlanganani surpasses targets
Hosia Mviringi
Zimbabwe’s premier annual world tourism exhibition, Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel Expo has once again pushed boundaries as the number of exhibitors exceeded the set target.
The event, whose curtain comes down today could perhaps be the most visible signal that the country`s tourism sector has recovered from Covid-19 induced retardation.
Organisers of the prestigious tourism event, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, had earmarked a target of 250 exhibitors, a number which, judging by previous attendances, seemed ambitious for an industry still smarting from a prolonged Covid-19 industry disruption.
Speaking in a statement to local media on Wednesday, ZTA Chief Executive Officer Winnie Muchanyuka said the authority was delighted to be welcoming more exhibitors at this year’s event than they had forecasted, which on its own is a good omen for the recovery of the sector post Covid-19.
“We had set a target of 250 exhibitors but we are happy to announce that we managed to surpass this target. As we speak 270 exhibitors, including 30 foreign firms are participating this year, a number which is more than we had had initially anticipated,” said Muchanyuka.
Six African countries namely South Africa, Rwanda, Mozambique, Malawi, Botswana, and Zambia are taking part at this travel and tourism convention.
Meanwhile, in a show of deepening cordial business linkages and firming intra-Africa business confidence due to Zimbabwe’s ‘Open for business’ mantra and the engagement and re-engagement drive, the Republic of Rwanda has a total of five exhibitors, Zambia four, while Mozambique has sent seven exhibitors to the famed tourism showcase.
One hundred international buyers who had registered to take part at the expo are already in the country and have already been on a countrywide pre-tours of key tourist destinations across the Provinces.
These have been mainly from Germany, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, the Middle East, and the United States of America.
Muchanyuka was full of praises for key sponsors who helped in hosting a successful tourism exposition at a time most tourism players are still limping from the scars of the just gone by Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are very excited at being here, but more importantly we are excited that after two editions of being virtual, this year we have a physical exhibition once again.”
“We are also very much appreciative and grateful for the massive support from sponsors that has helped us put this edition together. We have to rem2ber that things have been difficult in the tourism industry after the global Covid-19 pandemic. We have received amazing support which to me is an appreciation of the importance of tourism to our economy.”
Special mention went to the Airports company of Zimbabwe, who are a collaborative partner to the ZTA in the endeavour to bring in more tourists and visitors to the country and to make destination Zimbabwe attractive to both visitors and investors.
A number of exciting artists and musicians that include South African Superstar Big Zulu and Inkabi Records, Sandra Ndebele, Djembe Monks, Killer T among others will grace the Family Fun Music Festival being held today at the Zimbabwe Trade Fair Grounds in Bulawayo, the City of Kings and Queens.
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