International buyers looking forward to Sanganai/Hlanganani Expo

INTERNATIONAL buyers are looking forward to this year’s edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani International Tourism Expo which will be held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo from 13 to 15 October.

This will be the 15th edition of the tourism expo and is expected to attract over 200 international buyers. The expo is expected to continue to play a role in unifying the region into one multiattraction tourist destination. Sunday Business spoke to two international buyers from South Korea and the United States of America who said they were keen on participating in the tourism expo and playing their part in growing the sector in Zimbabwe and the region.

Mr Yunsuk Jin, a leading South Korean tour operator, confirmed that they had booked for a pre-tour ahead of the world expo which would take them to Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, Bulawayo and Harare. He said it was their hope that they will be able to explore the expo and sell Zimbabwe’s tourism products in that country and Asia at large

“We are attending Sanganai/Hlanganani as buyers and looking forward to meeting the rest of the world at this tourism exchange. Before Covid19, we used to bring about 3 000 South Korean tourists into the country and we hope to continue after this year’s edition of the expo. We want to enhance our knowledge and experience about destinations we have since booked to take part in a pre-tour that covers Bulawayo, Masvingo, the Eastern Highlands and Harare,” he said.

With offices in Cape Town and Johannesburg, Mr Jin said his company has a 80 percent market share of operators that bring tourists to Africa. American, Ms Kirsten Lebreux who works with an operator that specialises in custom tours all round the world said she was looking forward to seeing what the country has for tourists.

“Zimbabwe is one of my favourite places in the world and I am so excited at the opportunity to be at Sanganai/Hlanganani to reconnect with old friends and industry partners. I want to be able to pick as much information as possible and share it with friends and industry colleagues back at home,” Ms Lebreux told Sunday Business.

From 13 to 15 October, tourism journalists and buyers comprising international travel agents and travel trade partners, will be taken on familiarisation trips to different tourism sites across Zimbabwe. — @RealSimbaJemwa