News / Local
ZITF company plans $11m convention centre
10 Dec 2015 at 05:32hrs | Views
THE Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company is seeking $11 million for the construction of a 500-seater international convention centre. At the moment, the country has only one convention centre - the Harare International Conference Centre.
About two years ago, the trade fair company announced its intention to build an international convention centre within the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) in Bulawayo.
ZITF Company general manager Noma Ndlovu said they had finished the feasibility studies for the project.
"We've finished the feasibility studies for the construction of the convention centre. We're now at the stage where we're seeking funding for the project. We need about $11 million for the 500-seater convention centre," she said.
Ndlovu said they were looking for funding locally and offshore. "We're looking for funding elsewhere but mostly locally," said Ndlovu.
The addition of a convention centre within the ZIEC was desirable for many reasons.
For example, the convention centre would be key in putting Zimbabwe and Bulawayo as well as the ZITF on the map, she said.
Experts say the centre has the potential for economic spin-off benefits of between $100 million and $150 million annually as well as creating 2,000-4,000 direct and indirect jobs and supporting other sectors of the economy.
Due to lack of international convention centres, Zimbabwe is yet to benefit from global business tourism.
It has been highlighted that a shortage of hotels in Bulawayo should not be used as a scapegoat against a convention centre in the city as the centre could trigger more investment into the city's hospitality sector.
Official figures from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority show that Bulawayo has less than 800 hotel rooms.
Due to the shortage of accommodation, exhibitors and visitors to Bulawayo during periods such as the ZITF usually find it difficult to secure accommodation as hotels and lodges run out of rooms.
Early this year, the ZITF Company chairman Bekithemba Nkomo said they had temporarily shelved plans to construct their proposed 300-bed hotel.
This was because they could not readily find a willing investor to partner in the project.
A few years ago, the Bulawayo City Council gave the trade fair firm the green light to construct the hotel on a piece of land close to the Bulawayo Golf Club.
About two years ago, the trade fair company announced its intention to build an international convention centre within the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) in Bulawayo.
ZITF Company general manager Noma Ndlovu said they had finished the feasibility studies for the project.
"We've finished the feasibility studies for the construction of the convention centre. We're now at the stage where we're seeking funding for the project. We need about $11 million for the 500-seater convention centre," she said.
Ndlovu said they were looking for funding locally and offshore. "We're looking for funding elsewhere but mostly locally," said Ndlovu.
The addition of a convention centre within the ZIEC was desirable for many reasons.
For example, the convention centre would be key in putting Zimbabwe and Bulawayo as well as the ZITF on the map, she said.
Due to lack of international convention centres, Zimbabwe is yet to benefit from global business tourism.
It has been highlighted that a shortage of hotels in Bulawayo should not be used as a scapegoat against a convention centre in the city as the centre could trigger more investment into the city's hospitality sector.
Official figures from the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority show that Bulawayo has less than 800 hotel rooms.
Due to the shortage of accommodation, exhibitors and visitors to Bulawayo during periods such as the ZITF usually find it difficult to secure accommodation as hotels and lodges run out of rooms.
Early this year, the ZITF Company chairman Bekithemba Nkomo said they had temporarily shelved plans to construct their proposed 300-bed hotel.
This was because they could not readily find a willing investor to partner in the project.
A few years ago, the Bulawayo City Council gave the trade fair firm the green light to construct the hotel on a piece of land close to the Bulawayo Golf Club.
Source - chronicle
