Page 10 - Meetings Zimbabwe 2nd Edition

Introduction
Meeting increased expectations
One year on from the establishment of the Zimbabwe National Convention Bureau (ZNCB), the country has made progress in both the meetings sector and the revival of its incentive business
10 Meetings Zimbabwe 2015
In many respects, this is the best of times for the MICE sector in Zimbabwe ... interest is growing, international media reporting enthusiastic about the country’s charms and word-
of-mouth recommendations are bubbling.
But, numbers are not yet occasioning the ‘full’ sign at lodges
and resorts, rates remain reasonable and improvements in airline access, airport facilities and streamlined regional visas are making Zimbabwe a destination in the headlines.
Much remains to be done, but with both public and private sector organisations making concerted marketing efforts to open up the country to new business, there are bullish expectations for both conference and incentive business.
According to Tesa Chikaponya, ZNCB managing director, one direct result of its formation has been the rise of Zimbabwe to 13th in the ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association) rankings for Africa, up from 18th in 2012.
“We are positive that the establishment of the ZNCB will result in Zimbabwe’s improved ranking as we aim to be number two in Africa by 2018,” she said, adding that Zimbabwe had been hosting many international conferences though the statistics had not been captured or submitted to ICCA.
“The ZNCB facilitated less than 10 international conferences in 2013, but in 2014 more than 20 such events were facilitated - we also worked with 11 organisations in submitting bids, an increase from four in 2013.”
Among congress events scheduled for 2015 are the meeting of the Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Branch of the International Council of Archives (ESABRICA) and the Association of Seed Traders in Africa (AFSTA) conference, while
in 2016, the International Pharmacy Students Federation (IPSF) Congress will be held in Zimbabwe.
In terms of global marketing, as well as a presence at Meetings Africa, EIBTM and IBTM Africa, the ZNCB hosted its first MICE fair - A’Sambeni Business Tourism Expo - concurrently with the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo last year.
For 2015, Chikaponya said the Fair was set to attract buyers from Poland, United Kingdom and South Africa - and also provide an opportunity for exhibitors to interact with local and international corporates exhibiting at ZITF.
Education for local suppliers is also on the agenda, with training for both aspiring and practising Professional Conference Organisers (PCOs), with a MICE Business Forum taking place in March targeting key stakeholders and their requirements.
“In 2014 we organised three capacity building workshops, including a PCO workshop during the Sanganai travel show; an Incentive Travel Development workshop and an Associations Day aimed at boosting co-operation with local associations and corporates who are members of regional and international bodies that can bring their events to Zimbabwe,” said Chikaponya.
In tandem, a new body for the MICE sector is being formulated, based on a former MICE Industry Subsector Association that existed a decade ago: “ This will fall under the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism, and, working together with ZNCB and government, will act as the National Bid Committee since it will have representatives in all provinces - while provincial MICE association members will form local bid teams,” she added, with finer details on this available in the first quarter of 2015.