The Zambia Tourism Agency in partnership with KAMAGEO a hugely dynamic and vibrant tourism Public Relations and Marketing Company dedicated to increasing tourism to Africa, last week coordinated one of the most successful trade roadshow in the United Kingdom.

The roadshow was borne out of the fact that there is a recognition that it is important to provide detailed product information to travel consultants and their product managers to enable them effectively sell the various Zambian tourism products, while on the other hand generic information to the consumer is also important as this assists in generation interest to the tour operators.

The event was the biggest ever gathering of Zambian tour operators in the United Kingdom in recent times. It is expected that this will have far reaching and positive effect on the perceptions and positive knowledge of Zambia amongst tour operators in the United Kingdom.

Despite financial limitations the Zambia Tourism Agency and the London office was successful in playing an active role in the successful delivery of the Zambia roadshow in the United Kingdom. 

The road shows in the United Kingdom were held in Manchester, Cirencester, London West and Kensington London.

The Kensington London event was hosted at the High Commission in Kensington, London and was graced by His Excellency the High Commissioner for the Republic of Zambia to the United Kingdom, Mr. Muyeba Chikonde.

In his remarks the High Commissioner welcomed the exhibitors and buyers to Zambia House in true Zambian hospitality and acknowledged the work done by the KAMAGEO team led by Tim Henshall in partnership with the Tourism office in London.

He paid gratitude to the team from Zambia who responded to the initiative to come to the UK for this series of events which he hoped would be the first in a series of similar events in the near future.

“As Zambians we pride ourselves in the tourism product that we believe standout proud as the one of the best in the region. I can assure of the Government’s and High Commission’ utmost support in ensuring that it is made easier to sell Zambia,” he said. 

The High Commissioner encouraged that similar initiatives be undertaken in partnership with the private sector to ensure that Zambia was consistently in the minds of the travel traders and the consumers.

The High Commissioner was also presented with a book ’50 Years of Aviation in Zambia’ by Ms Keira Langford – Jonson, Commercial and Ground Operations Director at Pro-flight.

The exhibitors at the event were Norman Carr Safaris, Bushcamp Company, Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro, Waterberry Lodge and River Farmhouse, Kafunta Safaris, The River Club, Flatdogs Camp, Remote Africa Safaris, Wilderness Safaris, Chongwe Safaris, Zambia Groundhandlers, Sausage tree and Potato Bush camp, Robin Pope Safaris, Ila Safari Lodge, Jeffrey and McKieth Safaris, Konkamoya Lodge and Proflight Zambia. The exhibitors had travelled specifically from Zambia for the roadshow and others proceeded on from the ITB in Berlin while a few were represented by their UK agencies.

Buyers were invited from UK tour operators that were currently selling Southern Africa and Zambia and comprised senior staff and Product Managers. These included Embarque Travel, Mirus Journeys, African Pride, Gane and Marshall, Wildfoot Travel, Africa and Beyond, Carrier, La Concordia, Safari Club, Real Africa, Destinology, Safari and Beach, Audley Travel, Frontiers Travel, Steppes Travel, Explorations Company, Abercrombie and Kent, Natural Travel Collection, Wildlife and Wilderness, Luxury Safari Company,The Big 5 Safari Company, Red Savannah, Simply Safaris, Africa Travel, Bushbaby, Native Escapes, Discover the World, Wild Frontiers, Natural World Safaris, Original Travel, The Ultimate Travel Company, African Sky, Africa Travel Resource, Goodacre and Townsend, Theobald Barber, Africa Exclusive, Tribes Travel, Rainbow Tours, World Discovery, Africa Collection, Expert Africa, Wildest Dream Travel and Cox and Kings.