ITB Asia kicks off

ITB Asia, the leading travel trade show for the Asian market, opened its doors yesterday at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore with its partner country being Finland.

The Travel fair kicked off with a high record of over 15,000 pre-matched appointments exclusively between exhibitors and buyers secured prior to the show.

Zimbabwe is one of the few African countries exhibiting at show; these include Botswana, Egypt and Kenya.

The exhibition started off with educative and insightful keynote presentations on “The impact of Digital Disruption and Trends Driving Customer Experience in Travel” from Google and Booking.com which were well attended by Exhibiters, Buyers, Trade Visitors and Media.

Speaking from the Zimbabwe stand at the fair, ZTA chief executive, Karikoga Kaseke cited that Zimbabwe is part of the new exciting destinations targeted by Asian Buyers who are seeking new adventure owing to the unprecedented level of growth in outbound travel in most of their emerging markets.

”There also a cry for more information on destination Zimbabwe to these source markets through advertising and various marketing programs as suggested by the Buyers.

“This is so much to the extent that some Buyers have offered to facilitate destination promotional programs at no cost on the ZTA.

“It is also encouraging to note that most Asian Buyers have not been deterred by the negative publicity reports that Zimbabwe been receiving over the last decade as witnessed by their keen interest in promoting destination Zimbabwe.

“This is due to similarities shared in historical backgrounds between Zimbabwe and these source markets, where some reports are biased at the expense of a destination therefore it is something we should take advantage of to increase tourist arrivals from Asia into Zimbabwe.

Robyn Whaley from Zimbabwean tour operator, Off the Track, meeting buyers at ITB- Asia