e withdrawal of European buyers from the show was a big blow to Zimbabwe’s bid to host some international teams during the 2010 World Cup to be held in South Africa.
Although boasting about 450 remaining buyers,a number still higher than last year’s 365,Kaseke expressed concern over the development,saying this year’s edition which had attracted over 500 buyers would be marred by the withdrawal of the 70 top buyers whom he called the Thompsons of the world.
In their official communication, the buyers implicated the country’s major labour body,Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions among those who influenced their decision to pull out,he said.
He said the buyers indicated they feared for their lives after ZCTU had warned that there will be anarchy and bloodbath between union activists and the police on the streets during the days of the expo.
“I do not know whether ZCTU are aware of the devastating damage their warning has brought to the country,especially with regards to tourism”, he said.
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.
“It is ironic that these buyers are the same people who had vowed that they will never let political messages infiltrate into our business links but it seems these have suddenly become irresistible.
“We are however negotiating with them with the hope of re-engaging them but if they choose to buy the political product being sold to them by people bent on demonising the government of this country, then we will not continue bothering ourselves about them”, he said.
Kaseke said of the 201 exhibitors that applied to take part in the fair, the authority can only accommodate 118 due to venue limitations.
He said more than half of the exhibitors who were turned down were from the international scene.
Zimbabwe’s tourism industry has been hiccuping since the 2000 government initiated land reform exercise.
In 1999, the industry generated over US$200 million contributing about 7 percent to Gross Domestic Product and employing an estimated 200 000 people directly and indirectly.But it is estimated the employment level has since tumbled by 50 percent to stand at 100 000.
Second to South Africa’s Indaba,Zimbabwe’s Travel Expo will this year be held from 11 to 14 October-CAJ News.
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