ZIMBABWE TOURISM ON THE RIGHT TRACK

Chief Executive of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), Karikoga Kaseke (Centre) briefing the International buyers who are attending the 8th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani–World Tourism Expo which is taking place in Harare International Conference Centre. Others from left is Mr. Wengayi Nhau the Representative from Zimbabwe Council for Tourism (ZCT ) , Executive Director Destination Marketing, Mr. Manjengwa Jefferies, Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Givemore Chidzidzi and Head of Africa & Middle East of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Ms. Praise Gurumani Mazhandu.(All photos by Zainul Mzige of modewjiblog)

By modewjiblog team, Harare

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) has a mandate of marketing Zimbabwe as a tourism destination boasts its success in the tourism industry, by saying that last year the sector contributed 11 percent of the GDP.

On top of that the Authority has confidence that by the year 2020 they will be contributing 15 percent.

Speaking to Tanzanians journalists who are visiting Sanganai/ Hlanganani World tourism Expo, Chief Executive of Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Karikoge Kaseke said Zimbabwe tourist industry employs 13 percent of the formal sector.

He also said 86 percent of the tourists are coming from Africa and 14 outside Africa.

He said despite these successes, the nation believes regional integrations rather than each one going of their own.

He said nothing could unite blacks rather than tourism industry hence there is a need to work together to bring tourism to another height.

He said this expo will be a great way to advertise tourism and that his country for many years have been involved in many other expo taking place in Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa also as a part of strengthening cooperation in the sector.

The Chief Executive said he was happy to see Tanzanians especially journalists who have joined this initiative to promote tourism sector.

Tanzanian journalists featured in the expo include those from Daily News, The Africans, The Guardian, East African Business week and Modewjiblog.

Above and below: International buyers who attended the briefing at the Harare International Conference Centre listening attentively.

The journalists are in Zimbabwe in response to invitation from Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, a trip which was sponsored by Fastjet Airline who are planning to extend their wings to Zimbabwe

The 8th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani–World Tourism Expo was held from 18 – 20 June 2015 at the Harare International Conference Centre, with the target of meeting the ever-changing needs of the dynamic tourism sector.

According to the Authority there has been a big improvement for the 8th edition with 110 buyers and 27 media compared to 66 buyers and 10 international media hosted in 2014

“Despite the fact that the planning period was very limited due to the shift of dates to the first half of the year we have witnessed a great response” he said.

Speaking about the challenges they have encountered during the preparations he said inadequate of fund which remains a crippling factor for the growth of the event.

Tanzania based journalist who writes for the Guardian News paper, Frank Aman Interviewing Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Chief Executive Officer, Karikoga Kaseke (left) during the 8th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani–World Tourism Expo at the Harare International Conference Centre. At the centre is another Tanzanian Journalist working with East Africa Business Week, Timothy Kitundu.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), Chief Executive, Karikoga Kaseke exchanging ideas with participants at the 8th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani–World Tourism Expo which is taking place at the Harare International Conference Centre in Zimbabwe.