Preparations are complete for the 19th Sanganai/Hlanganani/Dzimbahwe World Tourism Expo, with tourism executives gathering at the Great Zimbabwe Hotel on Tuesday to coordinate industry priorities ahead of the flagship international trade exhibition.
The Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry convened the chief executives’ round-table meeting, which brought together senior executives from across the tourism and hospitality value chain.
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry Tongai Mnangagwa attended as guest of honour.
The meeting was organised to align the industry’s strategy with national tourism priorities ahead of the flagship trade exhibition, which runs from September 9 to 12 at the Gymkhana Events and Conference Centre in Masvingo.
The closed-door session provided a platform for tourism executives to discuss investment, destination marketing, service standards, connectivity and challenges affecting the sector. Details of the meeting’s resolutions had not been publicly released by the time of publication.
Government figures show that 385 companies from 15 countries have confirmed their participation in the expo. Participating countries include Botswana, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Indonesia.
At least 153 buyers—comprising 125 international and 28 local buyers, have also confirmed their attendance.
The international delegation represents important tourism markets such as China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, the United States, United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Indonesia, Bangladesh and South Africa.
This year’s relocation of the expo to Masvingo forms part of the Government’s devolution programme, under which major national events are being distributed across provinces.
The event is also expected to increase Masvingo’s international visibility as the home of the Great Zimbabwe World Heritage Site and other attractions, including Lake Mutirikwi and Gonarezhou National Park.
Preparations have included the refurbishment of roads leading to the venue and the rehabilitation of the Masvingo Airport access road. Other legacy projects include improvements to airport facilities, offices, ablution facilities, sporting infrastructure and associated road networks.
The programme includes a Tourism Investment Forum, CEOs’ Round Table, buyer-and-exhibitor meetings, gastronomy and music activities, masterclasses, the Scholastica Conference and the Sanganai awards ceremony.
The official opening is scheduled for September 9. Zimbabwe Tourism Authority expo information
