The city of Bulwayo is normally booming with local, regional and international tourism stakeholders when the annual gathering is held but global travel restrictions led to the cancellation of the vibrant in-person expo. In a bold move, however, the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) have planned a virtual format in order to ensure the popular trade forum can continue this year. “The main aim of Sanganai/Hlanganani is to provide a platform for the tourism industry players to network with the various global tourism markets,” explained Givemore Chidzidzi, ZTA’s Acting Chief Executive, “Given the current situation, digital is the way to go.”
The virtual event will provide exhibitors with an exciting opportunity to participate in real-time exchanges, build customized booths, schedule one-on-one discussions and meet international agents 24 hours a day without the barriers of time zones and worries of physical meetings. It is expected the ‘virtual’ Sanganai/Hlanganani will continue being part of the event after the pandemic ends.
The move has been welcomed by many tourism players in the country who have been unable to attend major international travel shows in key source markets this year due to COVID-19 dislocating the industry. Zimbabwe’s vibrant tourism industry, however, has been offered a valuable opportunity to connect with the international travel trade, engage with established partners and initiate new commercial opportunities with buyers who register on the platform. Strong participation is expected as the virtual event offers maximum convenience for trade delegates who can participate online from their home nations.
“Sanganai is an amazing opportunity to discover Zimbabwe’s tourism businesses,” says Umang Gossain of Ubon Safari in the UK, “I met impressive exhibitors last year, ranging from specialist walking safari guides to managers of outstanding accommodation across the country.” The respected safari specialist also praised the event for showcasing outstanding small travel and tourism enterprises, saying: “A key benefit of Sanganai comes from its unique opportunity to meet SME businesses.”
Sanganai/Hlanganani virtual expo will be the ‘first of its kind’ in Africa with the flexibility to schedule, book and hold meetings from anywhere in the world. There will also be a series of interactive webinar sessions. Registration is free.
In terms of Zimbabwe’s current travel situation, the relaxation of Covid-19 lockdown measures has created an opportunity to pilot strategies to scale up domestic tourism while building towards re-connecting with regional and international markets. Domestic flights within the country started in September 2020 with national airline Air Zimbabwe re-launching with a flight connecting three international airports: RG Mugabe (Harare); Bulawayo; and Victoria Falls. Covid-19 prevention measures including the wearing of masks, sanitising of hands and temperature checks for passengers. The airline, who are especially keen to welcome locals on board, are working with key stakeholders including the Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe, tour operators and the ZTA to create affordable packages for the local market.
Zimbabwe is keen to re-start tourism both quickly and safely but all stakeholders are mindful of the immense challenges facing the global travel and hospitality industry. Zimbabwe re-opened international airports and resumed inbound tourism on 1 October, 2020. Leading carriers, including RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines and Emirates Airlines resumed flights to Zimbabwe once the skies opened. At present, all arrivals, regardless if they are nationals returning home or foreign tourists, need to bring a negative PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test with them, taken no longer than 48 hours before the time of flight departure. Quarantine for arrivals after 1 October will not be mandatory if the required test has been fulfilled and the result is negative. Any arrival that does not fulfil the PCR test requirement will have the opportunity to pay for a test upon arrival or will be subject to quarantine for 14‒21 days.
In addition to showcasing tourism, the expo is also a timely opportunity to highlight the conservation impact the pandemic has had on Zimbabwe which is home to at least 350 species of mammals, more than 500 birds and 131 fish species who inhabit a diversity of natural habitats. A recent report in the research journal Nature Ecology & Evolution highlights how travel restrictions and socio-economic pressures arising from the pandemic have reduced funding for conservation in African countries like Zimbabwe, as wildlife-based tourism drops, foreign investment declines and national priorities change. The ability of African countries to effectively protect their wildlife has been seriously undermined. Many rural communities facing more economic challenges are relying more heavily on extracting natural resources to survive. The report highlights how endangered species and habitats face increased risks as conservation funding drops and threats to wildlife increase. Tackling the Earth’s ecological challenges is inevitably a complex task, but the report underlines how safeguarding natural habitats across Africa will be a key step to reduce future pandemic threats while also protecting valuable biodiversity.
In recent years, Zimbabwe has won international praise for its wildlife conservation initiatives. Sanganai / Hlanganani World Tourism Expo therefore presents a valuable opportunity not simply to build a more sustainable future for tourism but also to safeguard the livelihoods of many and drive resources into vital conservation work that is critical for this majestic nation and the fragile planet as a whole.
Top image: The Mutarazi Falls Skyline and Skywalk, overlooking the highest waterfall in Zimbabwe, is just one of the many adventure experiences on offer to tourists visiting the country.
