babwe’s bid to host some international teams during the 2010 World Cup, to be held in South Africa.
Although attracting about 450 buyers, a number still higher than last year’s 365, Kaseke expressed concern over the withdrawal of the 70 top buyers, whom he called the ‘Thomsons of the world’.
He claimed the buyers had implicated the country’s major labour body, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, as an influence on their decision to pull out. He said the buyers indicated they feared for their lives after ZCTU had warned there would be a bloodbath between union activists and the police on the streets during the days of the expo.
The labour body was not immediately available for comment.
Kaseke said his office was negotiating with the buyers with the hope of re-engaging them.
The Travel Expo is planned to run from 11 to 14 October. – CAJ News
27.9.2007
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Expo buyers pull out
HARARE - At least 70 international buyers from European countries, particularly the UK, have withdrawn from Zimbabwe's annual Travel Expo.
Addressing journalists in Harare, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Karikoga Kaseke said the withdrawal of European buyers was a big blow to Zim