The preparations for this year’s edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo have begun and are on course. This was revealed by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa during a post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday.
The event is set to run from 13 to 15 October 2022 at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo.
“Cabinet reports that preparations to host the Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo have started in earnest, with a confirmed attendance from 250 exhibitors; 165 International buyers from Europe, Americas, China, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, as well as 23 media houses from the same countries, have confirmed participation,” Mutsvangwa said.
This year’s expo, which is the 15th edition, is set to be a physical event unlike last year’s which was virtual.
“Hosting the physical event will afford the destination an opportunity to re-engage with regional and international tourism partners. The physical meetings will create a platform for participants to generate new sales leads that are crucial to the destination’s “Comeback Strategy” following COVID-19 induced lockdowns and travel restrictions that had been imposed in various source markets.
“The physical showcase will also encourage synergies between local operators who will need to collaborate efforts in line with the new way of doing business. In line with the National Tourism Recovery and Growth Strategy, the country will be able to engage with the domestic market. The physical exhibition will draw buyers and media from Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Hosting the event in Bulawayo will further create the needed economic activity and enhance publicity for the city,” the Minister said.
The Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo showcases the widest variety of Africa’s best tourism products and attracts international visitors and media from across the world. The past editions of the event were successful as they attracted the leading African destinations and major world tourism markets such as South Africa, Botswana, Malaysia, China, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Mozambique, Namibia, Indonesia, India, Italy and many others.
The annual event is organised by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), which is the country’s tourism promotion body.