Zimbabwe and Turkey are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Travel Turkey Izmir Fair (TTIF), due to take place from December 6 to 8 in Izmir, Turkey, to promote destination Zimbabwe to Turkish tourists and stakeholders.

Zimbabwe’s delegation to TTIF will be led by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Prisca Mupfumira.

“Zimbabwe’s participation comes at an opportune time when Zimbabwe has been on a re-engagement drive to push not only tourism but the various economic sector relations with the international world,” says Zimbabwe Tourism Authority Head Corporate Affairs, Godfrey Koti.

“During this mission, and on the sidelines of the fair, Zimbabwe will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Republic of Turkey with a scope of renewing the relations between the two countries, particularly on tourism promotion.”

Mupfumira says the country looks forward to the signing of the MoU, which she believes will contribute immensely to the development and promotion of tourism in both countries. She says the agreement will witness a number of deliverables such as destination marketing and promotion, sustainable tourism promotion, investment promotion, media and travel trade development, as well as cultural and technical exchanges in the field of tourism.

TTIF is one of the leading tourism fairs in Turkey, organised by the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies. The fair attracts over 44 500 tourism professionals, and more than 63 countries exhibit at the event.

The southern African country will also capitalise on attendance of the fair to re-engage with Turkish travel agents, the media, airlines and the general public.

Zimbabwe will host an Arts and Culture exhibition that will run concurrently with the fair, courtesy of the Turkish African Co-ordinator for Economic Relations, Tamer Taskin.