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Business Reporter
Italian companies that exhibited at the Italian Embassy stand during this year’s Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair are keen to do more business in Zimbabwe’s tourism sector.
Tourism companies that were represented at the stand include Salibonani Zimbabwe Safaris, Il Viaggio Marketing and MGM Consulenze Turistiche.

In an interview on the sidelines of the fair, Massimo Sordo, an Italian tourism entrepreneur who established Salibonani Zimbabwe Safaris in 2012, said he invested in the tourism sector after realising that there was huge potential for business between the two countries.
“The number of Italians and other Europeans visiting Zimbabwe has increased since 2010 as no other country in Africa has the unique combination of World Heritage Sites and animals in their natural environment.

“We currently serve clients from Italy, Spain and Germany; our primary area of operations is the southern region where we cover Masvingo and Matabeleland provinces,” said Massimo Sordo.

Salibonani Zimbabwe Safaris offers a variety of services that include transfers, scenic tours and upmarket safaris that take tourists to some of Zimbabwe’s most prized resorts. “Our focus is to expand the business through leveraging on linkages with tourism buyers from Italy and sellers of the Zimbabwean product.

“Being a Zimbabwean company that was established with Italian investment, we see a great future as we are positioned to effectively serve both markets based on sector knowledge and a network of contacts,” said the businessman.

Italian tourism buyers from Il Viaggio Marketing and MGM Consulenze Turistiche, who were on their second visit to Sanganai/Hlanganani, said

attending the fair was an important part of their strategy to grow the volume of tourism between the two countries.
Gian Marco Malaguti of MGM Consulenze Turistiche said: “Sanganai/Hlanganani is one of Southern Africa’s most important tourism fairs. We are in negotiations with various players and resorts and we hope to increase our business in this market.”

The embassy’s stand also distributed information and material on Italian tourist destinations. Italy is renowned for its culture, architecture and beautiful environment. The country also has the highest concentration of World Heritage Sites in the world.

These include the Venice, Verona, Vicenza and the Palladian Villas of the Veneto, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the archaeological sites of Pompei, the prehistoric Pile dwellings around the Alps and the residences of the Royal House of Savoy.

Il Viaggio Marketing representaive Carmilla Francesconi said knowledge of the Italian language amongst players in Zimbabwe’s tourism industry would make communication easier and facilitate an increase in business.

Italian language lessons were introduced early this year by Italian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Stefano Moscatelli and they have gained popularity locally. Over 30 students recently graduated from the first level of the programme. Other Italian companies and brands that exhibited at the Italian Embassy stand during Sanganai include Afrisun Marketing (furniture), Spodale Investments
(foodstuff importers), Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Brance (specialists in flooring, lighting, ceilings, faucets and sanitary ware), Speroni Irrigation & Industrial Supplies and Just Doors, an importer of Italian doors.