Zimbabwe Gears Up To Host Sanganai Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Fair

Preparations for Zimbabwe annual Sanganai Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair have reached an advanced stage with more than 900 exhibitors having registered so far to showcase their products and services, says Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive Karikoga Kaseke.

He told journalists in Harare on Wednesday that recruitment of exhibitors was progressing well with more than 900 having registered so far for the annual tourism showcase, which this year will be held at the Harare International Conference Centre.

“As of last night, 911 exhibitors had registered taking up 171 stands which translates to 3,377 square metres. We still have some vacant space and hope in the next few weeks it would have been taken up. At least 23 foreign exhibitors from countries like India, Tanzania, Malawi and South Africa have registered for this year’s edition translating to 47 foreign exhibitors,” he said.

Kaseke said the ZTA anticipated 150 hosted buyers would participate in this year’s event but was, however, experiencing a low turnout in registration.

Hosted buyers are buyers whose accommodation the ZTA pays for on a bed and breakfast basis.

“A total of 120 hosted buyers will grace the event and we still hope more will confirm. The other 30 buyers cited financial challenges to purchase air tickets (to travel to Zimbabwe). Without buyers we have no Sanganai, so we aremaking arrangements to pay for their travel expenses,” he said.

Kaseke noted that the bulk of the registered buyers were from the East and assured there was no buyer from Britain participating.

This year’s edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani comes hot on the heels of the 20th edition of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) General Assembly which Zimbabwe and Zambia co-hosted in August.