BACKGROUND
Sanganai/Hlanganani – World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair is an annual Tourism Trade Fair organized by the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority. It showcases the widest variety of Africa’s best tourism products, and attracts international visitors and media from across the world. The Fair is the successor of Shanyai/Vakatshani, the Zimbabwe International Travel Expo (ZITE) that was held annually at the Harare International Conference Centre. ZITE started as a small expo in 1982 and grew over the years to become one of Africa’s leading tourism showcases by 2007. The past four editions of Sanganai/ Hlanganani were a resounding success and attracted the leading African destinations and major world tourism markets such as South Africa, Botswana, Malaysia, China, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, Indonesia, Italy and many others. The editions have seen the whole world converging in Zimbabwe in the form of high calibre international buyers as well as exhibitors, hence achieving its main purpose of bringing the world to Africa, “Where the world meets Africa”. The 2012 edition will be held in the Capital city, Harare and is expected to ride on the successes gained by the previous editions and is therefore an opportunity not to be missed.
The Fair will target among other exhibitors the following:
National Tourism Boards
Embassies
International Airlines
Tourism destinations
Leading Tour Wholesalers, Tour Operators and Travel Agents
Leading Hotel Chains of the world
Car Hire and Transport Operators
Suppliers of goods and services to the tourism industry
Investors
Government Ministries
Parastatals
THE HOST COUNTRY
ZIMBABWE - A World of Wonders
Zimbabwe is a wonderful, friendly and welcoming destination, situated on a high plateau in Southern Africa and lies between the Zambezi and the Limpopo rivers. It is a unique and fascinating tourist destination, endowed with a lot of wonders, such as its warm and friendly people and unique culture, the mighty Victoria Falls, the Great Zimbabwe national monument, its rich history and heritage, pristine wildlife and the Lake Kariba, Matobo and the Eastern Highlands which are counted among the leading tourist attractions found in Africa. These wonders contribute immensely to the high degree of attractiveness that position the destination as a prime tourist destination in the world. It is a landlocked country, bordered by Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa and Botswana. The climate is generally warm, with a daily sunshine average of seven hours all year round.
Zimbabwe is a plural society where people of different races live in harmony. Zimbabweans living in urban areas have a westernized lifestyle, while in the country areas many African traditions have been preserved.
THE HOST CITY
HARARE – The Sunshine & Jacaranda City
The Sunshine & Jacaranda city is the country’s capital, commercial and industrial centre. It is a modern but not so sophisticated city, characterized by flowering trees, colourful parks and contemporary architecture. Harare has direct air access from major regional airports. It is only an hour and a half flight from Johannesburg and an hour from the majestic Victoria Falls. There are a number of airlines flying into Zimbabwe. Harare as a tourist destination possesses so many wonderful tourist places, wonderful and friendly people leaving a warm welcoming effect on all those travelling to this city. Major highlights are the National Heroes Acre, Mbare Msika, The Balancing Rocks, Lake Chivero and the National Art Gallery.
THE VENUE
HARARE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CENTRE
The Rainbow Towers Harare’s Luxury Hotel and Harare International Conference Centre is a complex that was built 25 years ago and it was formerly known as the Sheraton Harare Hotel and International Conference Centre. The complex hotel is now owned by one of Zimbabwe’s leading hotel groups, the Rainbow Tourism Group. Pride of the Rainbow Tourism Group, this immaculate 5 star unit is situated in park like gardens on the edge of Harare’s CBD. Rainbow Towers offers excellent facilities including private check-in and express checkout. The hotel comprise of 305 rooms of which 160 are standard rooms. The Conference Centre is the largest and most sophisticated facility in Southern Africa. The Conference Centre is located 17 km from Harare International Airport and 1 km from the CBD.
The HICC has been the home to the predecessor of Sanganai/Hlanganani – World Travel & Tourism Africa Fair, the Zimbabwe International Travel Expo.
BENEFITS OF ATTENDING SANGANAI/HLANGANANI
Participants at Sanganai/Hlanganani – World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair stand to derive the following benefits:
Meet and network (Sanganai) with exhibitors, visiting buyers, investors and suppliers of services to the tourism sector from all over the world.
Establish strategic business partnerships with world tourism players
Showcase your destination, products and services
Acquire knowledge about different source markets
Derive value from well structured, themed and informative International tourism conferences and workshops
Interact with Travel Media from all corners of the world
Establish strategic partnerships with other destinations/Cities,
Network across Ministerial divides