Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) is the centre of attraction as the Ministry of Tourism is hosting the 5th edition of the Takulandilani Malawi International Tourism Expo (MITE).
The forum, which started on April 25 and will run up to 27 April, has seen investors and stakeholders in the tourism sector exploring the country’s vast opportunities and various tourism enterprises to make Malawi the centre of tourist’s attraction.
Speaking during the official opening of the event, President Dr Lazarus Chakwera called upon the citizenry to take a leading role in embracing the country’s tourism sector in a bid to market what the country has.
This year’s tourism expo has attracted a number of local and foreign exhibitors with some expressing interest to come and invest in the country.
Speaking to ProjectM in an interview, Minister of Tourism Honorable Vera Kamtukule said the forum is making progress to attract more exhibitors even from other countries.
“The number of people visiting Malawi has surpassed that of Covid-19 numbers meaning that we are doing very well. However, the responsibility of selling Malawi to other countries lies in the hands of everyone,” she said.
Honorable Kamtukule said they will continue to develop the tourism sector so that tourists have the best experience in the country.
“Malawi is thought to be Africa for beginners but we want to be Africa for legends so that others can come and learn how we do it,” she said.
One of the exhibitors, Anne Chifulambe Msiska, who trades into Joan Foot Wear, a company that manufactures locally made shoes, said the tourism expo is a good place for networking with potential customers.
“I travelled all the way from Blantyre just to attend because this a chance to market our products thereby expanding our reach,” she said.
Blantyre-based Amarylis Hotel Marketing Manager Georgina Katama said the platform gives them an opportunity to interact with potential customers.
She said: “There has been an increase in terms of customers as compared to last year, through the interaction with people from different countries and we are so excited with the prospects that will come from this.”
The tourism expo is being held under the theme: Ipatse Moto… Everything Tourism.
