Zimbabwe holds annual marketing indaba

While the last expo was held against the background of a crisis, the current expo comes against the background of an impressive set of indicators:

• Europe has reclaimed its position as a major source market, with the UK accounting for the largest number of arrivals in the six months to 30 June 2009
  
• Arrivals by air increased 89%, while arrivals by road decreased by nine percent
  
• Arrivals from the USA leapt by 17.8%, while those from the Middle East, though negligible in real terms, soared by 113.6%.

This appears to be a vote of confidence on the stability that has occurred since political wranglers united to form an inclusive government in February 2009.

Karikoga Kaseke, the CEO of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, said 493 exhibitors will participate at the expo, which will also run a workshop, with one presentation targeted at exploring marketing opportunities in the UK, once of the fiercest critics of President Robert Mugabe.

Local hotel and leisure companies have cut prices by 30% in order to help make Zimbabwe attractive.