The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority has stepped up efforts to market the country’s tourism by spreading its focus towards promoting health tourism. The authority has invited a South African qualified aromatherapist, reflexologist and sports massage therapist, Ms Thandeka Balani, who will be exhibiting her skills at this year’s edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani Expo which begins tomorrow.
Speaking to Herald Business yesterday, ZTA head of corporate affairs Mr Sugar Chagonda said by inviting Ms Balani, his organisation believes that for tourism to grow the country obviously needs healthy people as well.
“When talking of Zimbabwe as a world of wonders, our first wonder is our people and culture hence the need to ensure that they are healthy in order to meaningfully promote the other facets of our tourism.
“Thandeka’s coming on board for this year’s expo is therefore a positive first step towards promoting health tourism and as such we would also want to encourage health experts from beyond our borders to come to Zimbabwe during such events like Sanganai/Hlanganani to promote their expertise while also benefiting locals,” he said.
Ms Balani expressed confidence that her expertise will go a long way towards growing her business beyond South Africa while she also said she wants to make a difference towards promoting the well-being of Zimbabweans.
“I am optimistic that during the Sanganai/Hlanganani Expo I am going to showcase my abilities in a manner that will promote my business, while also exchanging ideas with locals so that when I go back home I would be in a better position to tell the Zimbabwean story as it is,” she said.
Ms Balani added that her passion was to see that the Zimbabwean people can fully benefit from her exploits and also expressed interest in opening a massage parlour in the country describing the atmosphere as tranquil.
She is also a qualified Bowen technician (a special technique for chronic injuries that helps to restore shifted muscles and align bones in their correct positions), and is the first and only black woman technician in East London, South Africa.
ZTA’s bid to market and promote health tourism comes after the successful launch of township tourism at the end of last year in the high-density suburb of Highfield in Harare given its history in terms of the revolutionary struggle.
source: http://www.allafrica.com / allAfrica.com / Home> Southern Africa> Travel> Zimbabwe / The Herald / October 09th, 2013
