ALL Africa Conference of Catholics Sister to Sister (AACSS) regional meeting scheduled for the 27th of April to the 3rd of May has been hailed as a step in the right direction especially for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibition (MICE) business.
The meeting which is set to attract Catholic sisters from about six countries is expected to inject about US$70 000 in tourism receipts.
Speaking at the event’s fundraising dinner hosted in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Prisca Mupfumira applauded the Catholics and urged other organisation to bid for conferences in their sectors.
“Let me start by congratulating our Zimbabwean Catholic Sisters for offering to host this notable event which is set to attract over 200 Sisters from Zambia, Malawi, Uganda, Nigeria, Cameroon and the United States of America. My Ministry appreciates such determination to bid to be the host of such conferences.
“The hosting of such events not only profiles our destination as a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) destination but creates a platform for networking and knowledge sharing.
“I therefore urge not only the religious sector but also the various corporates attending this dinner to also bid for regional and international conferences. I know you have attended a number of events that are held outside Zimbabwe and my call this evening is, please bid for them and bring them home,” she said.
Although Zimbabwe has great potential to host high level conferences and summits, it has however played second fiddle to South Africa and other regional countries in terms of MICE business.
South Africa for example has been a preferred destination for huge churches gatherings and musical shows by renown artists among many others.
However, Minister Mupfumira said no stone should be left unturned in a bid to attract more conferences to the country adding that “we need the direct foreign currency injection it brings to the economy as well as other benefits associated with the hosting.
“I am informed that this conference (AACSS) will inject into our nation over US$70 000,” she said.
Meanwhile, the conference’s chairperson for the local organising committee Sister Tarisai Zata said they are yet to secure most of the conference materials and transport that will be ferrying the sister to Mana Resorts where the event will be held.
Sister Zata said people are free to donate towards the hosting of the conference and they can get in touch with her on her mobile number +263772333236-ENDS
