By Evans Dakwa, News Editor
Bulawayo-First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa officially opened the 17th edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo here last night.
Dr Mnangagwa who is also Patron of Zimbabwe Tourism and a Champion of Gastronomy tourism, implored players in the sector to ride on the impact of collaborations to grow the industry.
“Strategic partnerships are not merely beneficial, but essential in the quest for tourism growth. As industry leaders and Government officials, I urge you to foster partnerships that go beyond your audience. It is through such collaborations that you can share best practices, innovate in service delivery and ultimately create a riche experience for travellers,” said the First Lady.
She also highlighted how she has witnessed first-hand, Sanganai/Hlanganani grow as a result of deliberate efforst to leverage of working together.
“Let us recognise the collective responsibility we bear in shaping the future of tourism, over the past 17 years, we have all witnessed how Sanganai/Hlanganani tourism expo has grown and succeeded due to the tourism industry’s collaborative efforts across sectors, she added.
Several Ministers attended the official opening ceremony including the Ministers of State of Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Manicaland and Bulawayo. Also in attendance was the Minister of Tourism Honourable Barbra Rwodzi and her Deputy Tongai Mnangagwa. To spice it up, the regional flair came in the form of the South African Tourism Minister Patricia De Lille who was represented by the Director General in the same Ministry Victor Tharage.
As Sanganai/Hlanganani tourism expo ends today, the tourism sector in Zimbabwe continues to grow exponentially and is poised to achieve the targeted 5 billion contribution to the country’s GDP by 2025. Since January 2024 up to now, the Ministry reports that it has been the biggest contributor to the fiscus.