Zimbabwe: Travel Expo Buyers Start Arriving. Exhibition and exhibition business news for Ukraine and all over the world

Buyers to the Zimbabwe International Travel Expo which runs from October 11 to 14 have started arriving with some French buyers. In an interview, one of the buyers -- a consultant for French travel agencies Dr Michel Lo -- said he was in the country to sell the French market to Zimbabwean operators and to discuss potential areas of co-operation among various stakeholders.

"I am here to explain to local operators the needs of the French market, what they need to know if they are to capture that market. Zimbabwe has a lot of strengths, which it can manipulate to increase tourist arrivals into the country.

"To realise this, Zimbabwe -- through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority -- should come up with products that can attract the travel agencies. Tourism is a business, that means everyone in the sector is there to make money, hence all products should be able to give the buyer satisfaction," he said.

Zimbabwe had an upper hand over other countries in the region particularly in terms of safari and golfing facilities that could be developed further to attract tourists. At least 450 foreign buyers are expected to attend this year's expo, a far cry from the 365 foreign buyers who graced last year's event. ZTA had received 201 applications from exhibitors but could only manage to accommodate 118 due to space limitations. At least 50 of the 118 exhibitors were from Africa.