THE wildlife and hunting branch of the tourism sector proved to be a foreign buyers’ favourite at the just ended 2008 edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), setting the stage for a positive outlook for future trade between the country’s operators and the buyers.

In an interview with Sunday Business, some of the foreign buyers revealed that they were impressed with the display they had witnessed at the acclaimed event and the country in general.
“We haven’t been here very long yet, but so far, everything has been quite amazing. The hunting and wildlife packs have the most interesting stands and they really market the industry well.
“The accommodation and sites we’ve seen so far in the country are also of very good standards and I’m looking forward to experiencing much more that the country has to offer,” said Ms Daiva Anciunaite, a Travel and Tourism operator from Lithuania.
A group of 13 buyers from a variety of European countries including Italy, Estonia, and Lithuania among others, who were consequently part of the foreign buyers who graced this year’s A’Sambeni exhibition.
“We were actually brought here through the ZTA (Zimbabwe Tourism
Authority) and we’ve been touring the country trying to sample its products,” she said.
Among the stands they visited were the Ngamo Safaris stand, the African Hunts and Adventures stand, and the Sondela Safaris stand.

Ms Leila Hunt, who was exhibiting on behalf of Victoria Falls’ Sondelani Game Lodge and Elephant Experience, said there was a good response from the visiting parties. Ms Hunt said the buyers were interested in different tastes in the wildlife sector namely hunting and photographic wildlife, which she was representing. She said she believed the ZITF created a platform for the budding of future endeavours with the foreign world.
“There has generally been a positive response to our stand and the foreign buyers who have come by are very impressed with what they have seen of our display, the country and its facilities.
“Tourism is not a product which can get immediate response because first we have to get the buyers interested, which we have done, and then they have to convince their partners and associates to operate with us when they go back. We hope to nurture long term relationships with them,” she said.

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