by Derick Tsimba
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) is going to Madrid Spain to market Zimbabwe tourism resorts. The world is converging at the Spanish International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR in Madrid, Spain from, 22 - 26 January 2020, the country will be among the 10 487 exhibitors from 165 countries expected to attend.
ZTA will be exhibiting for the 12th time at the FITUR. The FITUR has become the global meeting point for tourism professionals. It is the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound markets in Europe. It attracts more than 140 000 trade fair visitors.
The ZTA Acting Chief Executive, Givemore Chidzidzi said the fair was an opportunity for Zimbabwe to increase its tourism destinations visibility.
“With this networking and intense exposure, Zimbabwe will leverage on this platform to reassure the market and further position Zimbabwe as a destination of choice,” he said.
“Furthermore, with the strategic position of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in Madrid, policy-makers within this body will meet to deliberate on global tourism issues under the auspices of FITUR,” said Chidzidzi.
Zimbabwe will take part in discussion covering topics on sustainability, innovation, investment and destination competitiveness among others. Zimbabwe should learn how to nurture the Spanish market which has shown positive growth patterns in the recent past, said Chidzidzi.
“This is one of Zimbabwe’s emerging markets. In 2018 we recorded 13,528 arrivals from that part of the world. This was a significant 8% increase from the preceding year which recorded 12,583 arrivals,” he said.
The Acting Chief Executive also said Zimbabwe had made it to Bloomberg’s 24 Best Travel Destinations for 2020
“We're proud to share with the world that Destination Zimbabwe made it to Bloomberg’s 24 Best Travel Destinations for 2020. Additionally, Zimbabwe has also been nominated in Harpers Bazaar’s Where to Honeymoon in 2020. The renewed confidence in Zimbabwe is clearly reflected in these nominations and we are hopeful that this will drive traffic into the destination,” said Chidzidzi.
The Harare Post has learnt, in Madrid Spain, ZTA is going to be led by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Mr. Munesu Munodawafa. The Zimbabwe delegation constitutes ZTA, Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority, The African Experiences and Surma Expeditions among other tourism industry players.
