07 Mar 2021

 Local Enterprise Authority (LEA) has sponsored 10 Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to participate in the ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel trade show in Germany. 

A news release from LEA says the SMMEs are from Maun, Kasane, Pilane and Gaborone, trading in various sub-sectors of tourism such as hospitality, mobile safari and tours and travel agency operators.

 The release says the March 9-12 travel trade show, which is organised by Messe Berlin, is the largest tourism business to business trade fair, where the first two days are trading days and the last two days are open to consumers. 

It says the companies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) represented at the fair include hotels, tourist boards, tour operators, system providers, airlines, and car rental companies. 

The release says this year, ITB Berlin will host the trade show as a virtual event trademarked, ITB Berlin NOW with a format that targets the business to business community comprising of exhibitors, trade visitors and buyers from every segment of the global tourism value chain, as well as journalists and travel bloggers. 

“The virtual platform will present expert discussions, exhibitor presentations, business partner suggestions, networking features, inspiration, and business-enhancing functionalities. 

The virtual trade fair will therefore enhance business linkages with the local and international markets and accord them an opportunity to market their services,” the release says.

It says despite the suppressed tourism market due to COVID-19 pandemic, LEA continues to provide targeted capacity development and support services to SMMEs in Botswana, adding that the ITB Berlin sponsorship comes after the Tsosoloso workshop that was recently held in Gaborone specifically for the tourism industry. 

“LEA organised Tsosoloso workshop with the intent to resuscitate businesses and devise strategies with clients on how they can recover from the COVID-19 adversities,” the release says. ends