The fair, which runs up to Saturday at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre, has become a permanent feature on Zimbabwe’s tourism calendar.
Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe president George Manyumwa told NewsDay that significant bookings were coming in and they were expecting brisk business.
He said the expo was important for tourism as it brings the world to Zimbabwe as happens in other countries around the world that hold similar expos.
“We are excited about government’s support for such an important event. This is in line with tourism being a key pillar in the growth of our national economy. Significant bookings are coming in but hotels and lodges are not yet fully booked yet,” he said.
Manyumwa said the economy of Bulawayo was going to benefit through the presence of many visitors who would attend the showcase.
“Visitors from other countries will have the chance to explore the surroundings of Bulawayo and experience its rich cultural heritage.
Benefits from this exposure will manifest in the near future through increased tourism traffic into Bulawayo,” he said.
Tourism is seen as a low hanging fruit which provided the quickest turnaround ahead of sectors such as mining and agriculture.
News Day