THE Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company, that will mark the return of the hosting of Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo in Bulawayo.
BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
In June, the government ordered ZTA to return Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo to Bulawayo, as the city has the largest capacity in the country to host international conferences with spacious exhibition halls at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre
In an interview with NewsDay yesterday, ZTA chief executive officer, Karikoga Kaseke said they have decided to come back to Bulawayo under the conditions that players in the industry in Bulawayo were not misbehaving.
“We decided to come back to Bulawayo (and) it’s up to the players in the tourism industry in Bulawayo if they want it to remain here. They should behave and stop overcharging. We don’t want to overcharge people. We are there to stay, but subjected to the behaviour of players,” Kaseke said.
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Kaseke said pricing was good, but it should not be abused like what usually happens during ZITF exhibitions.
He said players in the tourism sector in Bulawayo usually overcharged people during that time and it was unacceptable.
ZITF general manager Nomathemba Ndlovu said the signing of the MoU marked the formalisation of an already existing relationship with the ZTA. She said they have been working well with them, providing infrastructure and furniture for Sanganai/Hlanganani in Harare for two years.
“Following the signing of the MoU, there will be even closer cooperation with the 2016 edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani actually being held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre,” Ndlovu said.
She said the return of the Sanganai/Hlanganani to Bulawayo was a positive development, as more tourism players in the region will be showcasing their market offerings during the fair.
“The city tends to rely on the few large events that take place like the ZITF. So this will create employment and boost downstream industries,” she said.
Ndlovu said they were looking forward to working with ZTA and to realisation of the region’s tourism investment potential.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe has come up with a tourism growth strategy, with the objectives of increasing international tourist arrivals to over 3,5 million by 2020 from 1, 88 million in 2014. The industry also mulls to increase domestic travel by at least 150% from 2013 to 2020, as well as increasing tourism receipts from $827 million in 2014 to $5 billion by 2020.
Under the strategy, tourism’s contribution to GDP will rise to 17% in 2020 from 11,6% in 2014 and increase employment creation from 200 000 direct, indirect and induced employment in 2013 to at least 350 000 direct, indirect and induced employment by 2020.
ZTA said Bulawayo generally lacked competitive tourism amenities, offering a choice of activities for tourists and these and other investments were waiting to be tapped in the region.