About 20 international Tourism Buyers/Agents who included; Professional associations in public health, construction, medicines, pharmaceuticals, transport & logistics, sports, incentive travel and Professional Events organising companies are considering Zambia to host their business travel in the next 18-24 months.
Speaking after participating in the 17th edition of Meetings Africa Conference in South Africa, Zambia Tourism Agency Promotion Manager Chibesa Ruth Kambalakoko said the Zambian Government has allocated resources that would see a robust tourism promotion and campaigns to attract international and domestic travelers.
She said Meetings Africa was a strategic business platform that brought together exhibitors from various African countries showcasing their tourism products and services.
Ms Kambalakoko said because of its unique tourism sites that have continued to attract many tourists and the prevailing conducive business environment, Zambia has become a destination of choice for Foreign Direct Investments.
She said the Zambian Government had been investing heavily in tourism related infrastructure such as new airports, new conference centre and in particular the new wing at Mulungushi International Conference Centre and hotels to reinforce the existing facilities to be able to host large international meetings and conferences.
Ms Kambalakoko said the Meetings Africa had exceeded expectations of not only Zambia Tourism Agency but majority exhibitors from Zambia, particularly with the interest shown by international associations to hosting some of the meetings in the country.
She said Lusaka and Livingstone were picked for their state-of-the-art international standard facilities.
Ms Kambalakoko said the Kenneth Kaunda international airport new wing had also drawn interest amongst the exhibitors.
“ZTA hosted 25 Meetings at the exhibition stand with different international MICE Buyers/ Agents who included; Professional Associations, Corporate Incentive Buyers, Professional Congress Organisers (PCO)and Events companies from public health, sports, Insurance, Technology automobile, pharmaceuticals, transport and logistics just to mention a few that have conferences in the next 18-24 months averaging 2,000-6000 people,” Ms Kambalakoko said.
“Some takeaway is that Zambia should first start to arrange familiarisation trips for both international Tourism buyers, and media to ensure that they can see and feel what Zambia is able to offer in terms of the complete MICE and related packages.” She said hosting familiarisation tours is a very effective way of creating tourism marketing ambassadors who will go back to their clients and sell the destination on our behalf, by convincing them to bring their business events to be hosted in Zambia.
She said legacies such events leave behind were beneficial to the people through job creation and communities at large.
Meetings Africa is a gathering of Africa’s various stakeholders in the Meeting Incentives, Conferences/Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) sector of the growing tourism industry.
It aims to contribute to helping African business events players to grow.
Eleven MICE suppliers from Zambia under the Zambia Tourism Agency (ZTA) participated in the event.
And ProFlight Zambia Sales and Marketing Manager Barbara Namwila said the Meetings Africa event gave her airline an opportunity to share and create new partnerships and build relationships.
She said it was a good opportunity for Proflight Zambia to meet with different stakeholders and airlines to share business ideas, experiences.
Mukuni Big 5 Safaris Marketing and Operation Manager Paul Mupinde said Meetings Africa gave them the opportunity to meet and network with other industry players within the regional and worldwide.
Mr Mupinde said Meetings Africa had played a major role in exposing Mukuni Big 5 Safaris to stakeholders and other exhibitors.
He said the Mukuni Big 5 Safaris plays a role on conservation of endangered lions and cheetahs.
“Our belief is that charity begins at home, that is why we host thousands of school children on educational tour, site seeing and so many tourist attractions sites,” he said.
He added that Mukuni Big 5 Safaris had different tourist programmes for visiting tourists and a volunteer programme where clients work with its experienced guides while learning wildlife and survival skills.
Ciela Resort and Spar Marketing Manager Maggy Emilia Maliti said that Meeting Africa was beneficial.
“We need to make sure we sell and put-up Zambia to the world, recognised as an African destination. Zambia has a lot to offer and catch up on as Zambia tourism and we need to push. Zambia has so much to show to the world,” she said.
She said Meetings Africa provided a vital platform for networking and sharing experiences in the tourism sector.
Zambia’s Acting High Commissioner to South Africa Mrs. Inonge Mwenya expressed happiness that Zambian companies participated in the Meetings Africa 2023 Conference where they interacted with other players and prospective clients in the sector.
325 exhibitors from 22 African countries and over 375 from more 60 countries were at the Meetings Africa 2023 conference at the Sandton Convention Centre in South Africa.