Blow for World Tourism Expo as buyers quit over Ebola threats

ZIMBABWE - THE Hlanganani/Sanganai World Tourism Expo could suffer a huge blow amid reports that over 30 international buyers have pulled out the business show over Ebola fears that have killed several people in West Africa.

According to a local daily hotel bookings worth $6 million have been cancelled countrywide since the deadly virus was detected in some West African countries in July.

 This came as tourism operators in Victoria Falls said yesterday they had lost an estimated $1,5 million in potential revenue after Ebola fears forced the cancellation of bookings for an insurance conference held in the resort town early this month.


This is despite the fact that no Ebola was detected in Zimbabwe, with one suspected case turning out to be malaria.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Karikoga Kaseke told a Press conference yesterday that the Ebola scare had negatively impacted on the tourism sector.
He said international visitors for the Expo who cancelled their bookings were demanding their money back, which adversely affected the event.

He also said there would be no need in the future to host the expo if exhibitors were not coming.

He said among the buyers who cancelled their participation, 11 were from Europe, while the others were from Asian countries like China and Malaysia.
Among African countries, only Botswana would not make it due to "technical problems" that have nothing to do with Ebola.

At least 115 companies have confirmed they will exhibit at the Expo, taking up 4 058m2 of space.
Egypt, Kenya and India will be participating in the Expo for the first time.