Monday, May 7, 2018
Zimbabwe will take part in Africa’s largest travel trade show, Travel Indaba, which starts in Durban, South Africa, tomorrow and ends on Thursday.
The travel trade show would showcase and promote the Southern African region to the world by displaying a wide variety of top drawer tourism products and attracting international buyers and media from across the globe.
The indaba includes a business and policy forum for African tourism ministers each year.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority head of corporate affairs and public relations Mr. Godfrey Koti said that the country would have a record 32 tourism operators at its stand.
Koti said, “This year the country will participate with a record 32 tourism operators on its national stand. The exceptional response is a true reflection that Zimbabwe is open and ready for business. Various Zimbabwean tourism operators have expressed optimism that travel to Zimbabwe will increase as the Government re-engages global markets who have been shunning Zimbabwe for a long time. A number of Zimbabwean tour operators have also secured their own exhibition stands at indaba, which will enhance Zimbabwe’s participation.”
Koti said that the Zimbabwean delegation would be led by the Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira.
The ZTA chief executive Dr Karikoga Kaseke said that he is happy with the enthusiasm shown by local tour operators.
“We have over the years lost substantial amounts of business to the South African market. We must take remedial action without further delay, we need to act swiftly. We are going to South Africa to regain the market share we lost,” said Dr. Kaseke.
South Africa is the largest tourist source market for Zimbabwe, contributing 30 percent of total arrivals in 2017. Zimbabwe will hold its “first visit Zimbabwe” roadshow on the sidelines of the main travel conference.
Dr. Kaseke said that arrivals need to be increased from South Africa.
“The decline in arrivals from South Africa, which is the country’s major market, is of great concern and calls for urgent attention.
“This has resulted in the need for a ‘Visit Zimbabwe’ campaign in South Africa,” Kaseke said.
Tags: Zimbabwe Tourism
