Over 350 global buyers are expected to meet at this year's Zimbabwe International Travel Expo that kicks off in Harare this week, the official Sunday Mail reported.

The Travel Expo, which takes place in the second week of October every year, starts on Thursday and ends on October 15.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority marketing and communications director Givemore Chidzidzi said five countries from the region have confirmed their participation in this year's Expo.

"Botswana, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi and Tanzania have already confirmed their participation. This year, 350 buyers from across the world have also confirmed their participation," Chidzidzi said.

The role of the buyers is to promote the country's various tourist packages in their different markets in the world.

This year's Expo has been under the auspices of the National Economic Development Priority Program that was launched in February this year.

Tourist arrivals in Zimbabwe have increased by 33 percent in the first half of the year.

(Xinhua News Agency October 9, 2006)