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Leonard Ncube, [email protected]

Tourism and Hospitality Industry deputy Minister Tongai Mnangagwa has said the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) initiative has potential to drive tourism in Zimbabwe and the region.

He was speaking while representing Tourism Minister Barbara Rwodzi, welcoming delegates at the Zimbabwe MICE Masterclass that just started at the Zimbabwe Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo.

The MICE Masterclass is the first on the annual 17th edition of Sanganai/Hlanganani World Tourism Expo programme.

Dep Minister Mnangagwa said there is need to invest heavily in infrastructure particularly conferencing facilities to grow the sector.

“Let me reiterate that MICE tourism is a key feature in our strategic tourism cluster. By prioritising this sector, we are committed to making sure Zimbabwe is one of the leading destinations for global events and conferences. As an industry we need to work on our conference facilities. We would need in every province to have maybe a 5 000 or 10 000-seater conference facility. Overall, Zimbabwe has great potential for MICE tourism with its unique attractions and addressing the challenges will open the opportunities thereof,” he said.

He said the MICE Masterclass is in important platform for sharing experiences.

MICE is a type of travel business that involves Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, being implemented by the tourism sector as a strategy and remedies that has potential to turnaround the country’s tourism industry.