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Oliver Kazunga, Senior Business Reporter
MAJOR hotels in Bulawayo are fully booked ahead of this year’s Sanganai/Hlanganani Tourism Fair, which starts at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre tomorrow.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority said the premier tourism fair, which ends on Sunday, has this year recorded a significant increase in the number of exhibitors and international buyers.

A snap survey carried out by Business Chronicle in Bulawayo yesterday showed that major city hotels were fully booked during the entire period of the tourism expo.

An official from the reservations department at Bulawayo Rainbow Tourism Group who could not be named for professional reasons, said they were fully booked ahead of the prime tourism fair.

“I am sorry we are fully booked and we are not taking any bookings during this period of Sanganai/Hlanganani tourism event,” said the official.

Last week, ZTA announced that this year’s tourism expo exhibitors’ participation had increased by 44 percent with statistics showing that 340 exhibitors had registered compared to 236 who attended the 2016 edition.

An official from Cresta Churchill Hotel who also could not be named for professional reasons said they were fully booked.

“As of now we are fully booked, maybe you can try us next week,” said the official.

This year’s event has attracted 22 foreign exhibitor stands from 12 countries among them South Africa, Ghana, Mozambique, Uganda and Rwanda.

Apart from the business-to-business meetings between exhibitors and buyers, the tourism expo would also host a health exhibition where people will have an opportunity to get voluntary and free medical check-ups for ailments such as diabetes and hypertension.

At Holiday Inn Bulawayo, another official from the reservations department said:

“We are fully booked and at present we don’t have any more space to book additional visitors.”

ZTA also revealed that 150 of this year’s exhibitors were from Bulawayo compared to 95 who participated at last year’s edition.

The tourism authority also indicated that there was significant growth in first time participants from 54 companies that were first timers last year to 85 exhibitors who will be participating for the first time at the 2017 edition.

Meanwhile, the ZITF was yesterday a hive of activity as workers put final touches to the exhibitors’ stands.

@okazunga