A lack of funding is threatening the annual Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo, the Zimbabwe Chronicle has reported.
According to the report, the Minister of Finance has not released the funding for the show, while the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has yet to pay for its participation in this year’s Indaba trade show. ZTA has requested $450 000 from the government to cover these expenses.
ZTA CEO Karikoga Kaseke told Tourism Update that without the funding, there would be no show. He said the first instalment from the Ministry was expected in March, but has not been received. Moreover, the authority needs to receive the funding before the end of the month to be able to put together the show. He emphasised that the show was just less than a month away.
Zimbabwe has organised the annual fair successfully for 32 years and failure to hold the show this year would be “devastating” to Zimbabwe’s tourism industry, said Kaseke. He also pointed out that 153 buyers had registered to attend the show. He was concerned that many of these buyers would have already booked their air tickets to attend the show, while ZTA needed to pay for their accommodation.
Kaseke said that while he understood that the Zimbabwean government did not have funds, tourism was the country’s top income generator and the sector has been performing well. “The issue is a lack of resources. Government does not have resources,” he said “We appreciate that. But, we are simply saying that if tourism is doing so well in Zimbabwe, they must support tourism.”
“Travel shows are very critical because they bring everyone, including key buyers, under one roof,” said Kaseke, adding that the show has helped drive tourism in Zimbabwe.
According to Kaseke, the authority was talking to the Ministry. “We are hopeful that the Minister of Finance will release the funds before the end of the month.”
The expo is due to take place from June 16-18 at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Last year, the authority was unable to attend the ITB show in Berlin because it had not paid exhibition fees on time.
