Business Reporter
NEARLY 400 exhibitors have registered for the 19th Sanganai/Hlanganani Zimbabwe Tourism Expo, set to take place in Masvingo next week, with over 130 international buyers confirmed to attend.
Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Barbara Rwodzi announced on Wednesday that 392 companies have registered, reaching 98 percent of the targeted 400 exhibitors. This marks a 14.3 percent increase from the 343 exhibitors recorded last year.
“The response to the 19th edition has been very encouraging. With 392 companies registered, we are close to meeting our target of 400 exhibitors. The number has grown from 343 last year, a 14.3 percent year-on-year increase. We expect to meet or even exceed our goal,” Minister Rwodzi said during a media briefing in Harare.
The exhibitors represent a wide range of sectors, including accommodation providers, travel agents, tour operators, car hire and transport companies, airlines, publicity associations, service providers, suppliers, financial institutions, and tertiary institutions.
Minister Rwodzi highlighted that hosting the expo in Masvingo aligns with the government’s devolution agenda and heritage-based tourism development strategy. Masvingo is home to the Great Zimbabwe Monuments, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a key cultural and archaeological landmark in Africa.
“This location provides a perfect platform to showcase Zimbabwe’s tangible and intangible heritage, promote authentic cultural experiences, and boost heritage tourism as a driver of investment and local economic growth,” she added.
In conjunction with the expo, the government has launched World Tourism Month, which runs throughout September and culminates in World Tourism Day on September 27. The month-long observance aims to highlight tourism’s contribution to economic growth, employment, cultural development, environmental sustainability, and inclusive development.
Minister Rwodzi emphasized that for Zimbabwe, World Tourism Month is an important opportunity to reaffirm the country’s commitment to using tourism as a catalyst for achieving the goals of Vision 2030 and to showcase the diverse opportunities available across the nation’s tourism destinations.
The Sanganai/Hlanganani Expo will feature a variety of activities, including a gastronomy and music festival, a Gastronomy Master Class, a Tourism Investment Conference, and a CEOs’ Roundtable.
