SANGANAI/HLANGANANI WORLD TOURISM EXPO GOES a gear up


As ZTA commences registration of Exhibitors

BY CONRAD MWANAWASHE

Registration of Exhibitors for the 15th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani-World Tourism Expo, to be hosted virtually from 27 – 29 October 2021, has opened with that of Buyers commencing next week Thursday, according to a schedule released by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Acting Chief Executive, Givemore Chidzidzi.

Meetings diary will open October 1 2021.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Acting Chief Executive, Givemore Chidzidzi

“There will be a series of webinars being hosted and these will touch on topical issues including the market perspective webinar where agents from key source markets will share insights on the changing global trends due to the effects of the pandemic,” said Chidzidzi with optimism that new exhibitors will participate at this year’s event.

Over 190 exhibitors registered last year including 29 foreign exhibitors. Over 130 international buyers registered, over 2 500 one on one meetings facilitated

International Buyers from Australia, Middle East, China, Asia and Pacific, Europe and Americas and Southern Africa registered in 2020.

“We switched to Virtual Expos last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic and saw the need to embrace the ‘New Normal’ as we could not continue to be absent in the various key source markets,” said Chidzidzi.

“We did an online survey and most of our source markets preferred the virtual exhibition due to travel restrictions. Going forward due to the inoculation exercise underway we shall be hosting hybrid exhibitions. Our virtual system was developed in-house and has since undergone enhancements to include an ‘on-demand’ meeting requests platform.”

There will be Live HD video conferencing, virtual auditorium for interactive webinar sessions and 3D virtual exhibitor booths.

The Sanganai /Hlanganani platform has become more user friendly, and participants can now schedule meetings using their respective time zones.

“We have taken into account the challenges that the industry has gone through during the past two years, and we shall be offering the exhibition platform for registered industry players free of charge. Only those who are interested in enhancing their exhibition through taking 2d and 3d booth will pay a nominal fee for the booths. We encourage the industry to make use of this opportunity and remain connected to the markets through this platform,” said Chidzidzi.

Zimbabwe has remained connected to the market through various platforms and membership in international associations from key source markets such as Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA), African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA) UK, Anerkannte Spezialisten fuer Afrika-Reisen (ASA) Germany hence the wider array of quality buyers.

Through these partnerships, the destination has continued to receive the much-needed exposure through engagements that have been facilitated by the associations. Sanganai/Hlanganani – World Tourism Expo has remained relevant during these trying times and this year’s edition is expected to supersede the success achieved during the 2020 virtual edition.

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