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Charity Ruzvidzo Business Reporter
WOMEN in Tourism are set to host a business expo aimed at increasing access to the market and creation of business opportunities for women in the sector.

In an interview, Women in Tourism president Violet Mhute said the expo would be held during the Africa Union Sports Council Region 5 Under-20 Youth Games that run in Bulawayo from December 5 to 14.

A total of 11 countries including Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, Seychelles, Angola and Mozambique are participating in the sporting event.

“Women that major in handcraft have been struggling to access the tourism market. The expo, which is running alongside the Africa Union Youth Games, will enable women in the tourism sector to gain market access,” Mhute said, adding that the expo was open to corporates.

“The expo is also open to corporates who want to showcase their products”.

Mhute said their main objective as Women in Tourism was to empower women in the sector through enabling the creation of business opportunities for them.

“Most women who do handcraft are operating in their backyards as they lack exposure to the tourism market. Our goal is to create business opportunities for these women,” she said.

Some of the funds raised at the expo will be donated to Mpilo Hospital.

“As women in tourism, we adopted a children’s ward at Mpilo. We want to donate to the ward some of the funds raised at the expo,” said Mhute.

She said their organisation also trains women to do handcraft.

Women in Tourism has branches in Gokwe, Chiredzi, Harare, Victoria Falls, Hwange and Bulawayo.

Recently, a Uni-Visa between Zimbabwe and Zambia was launched, a development expected to boost tourist arrivals in the country with Women in Tourism expected to tap into tourists visiting Zimbabwe.