South Africa Tourism will reschedule this year’s Africa’s Travel Indaba.
This follows this evening’s State of the Nation address by President Cyril Rampahosa, who confirmed that 08 May 2019 will be the date for the national elections.
Indaba was scheduled to take place from 06-09 May at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban.The ICC also serves as the nerve centre for elections in the KwaZulu Natal province and takes priority over all other events.
“We are currently exploring all viable alternative options in light of the announcement of the election date,” said South African Tourism CEO, Sisa Ntshona.
“We also need to consult with our various partners and stakeholders and appreciate the understanding of our buyers, exhibitors and delegates who will now await a new date to attend Indaba.”
“We know the importance of Indaba to the travel industry and want to ensure that we are still are able to provide a world class show despite having to change the date,” added Ntshona. The Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) also added their voice. “With dates confirmed upfront, buyers and exhibitors would’ve planned around the
original date. There are also other global shows during this period, but we would like to re-assure the industry that despite the new date, Indaba will still be a fantastic show to attend and would like to encourage you to attend once the new date is confirmed,” explained TBCSA CEO, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, Indaba is Africa’s biggest travel and trade show with over 7 000 delegates from 80 countries attending last year’s event.
South African Tourism CEO, Sisa Ntshona.
“Tourism in Africa is growing – it’s a sunrise sector for many African countries, and this is reflected in the wider range of exhibitors we are seeing at the show each year, “says Sisa Ntshona the CEO of SA Tourism and organisers of Africa’s Travel Indaba.
African countries are taking tourism seriously based on 2017 figures which show that 8,1% of Africa’s total GDP was generated from the sector (USD 177 billion). [1] Tourism is also driving job creation in Africa with an estimated 6,5% of all employment on the continent being in the sector. These figures are based on Africa currently attracting just 5% of global travellers.
South African Tourism has a vested interest in collaborating and partnering with other countries to create desire and demand for Africa and is part of the 5 in 5 country strategy for growth. “The future success of tourism as an economic driver depends on the presence of policies and continental strategies for trade and investment that meet the needs of the sector and an overall business environment that is conducive to growth. It depends too on the abilities of all players from across the continent to meet, engage and support initiatives and the three-day Africa’s Travel Indaba is one of the key places to start that conversation,” says Ntshona. “There is no reason why the continent cannot double its share of the global tourism market in the next decade with a collaborative approach to the destination.”
African country products confirmed for this year include established tourism players as well as developing destinations such as the Central African Republic, Sudan and the DRC. The organising team for Africa’s Travel Indaba is working to secure further countries and are happy to negotiate to support the attendance of more products and representatives from the continent.
To register for Africa’s Travel Indaba 2018, please visit www.indaba-southafrica.co.za.
Remember to log onto the diary system as soon as possible to secure appointments with exhibitors.
[1] WTTC 2018 Annual Economic Report – Africa
]]>
Tourism businesses from 21 African countries and 12 African tourism authorities have already confirmed their attendance at the largest global travel trade show for the continent, and there is still time to register.
“Tourism in Africa is growing – it’s a sunrise sector for many African countries, and this is reflected in the wider range of exhibitors we are seeing at the show each year, “says Sisa Ntshona the CEO of SA Tourism and organisers of Africa’s Travel Indaba.
African countries are taking tourism seriously based on 2017 figures which show that 8,1% of Africa’s total GDP was generated from the sector (USD 177 billion). [1] Tourism is also driving job creation in Africa with an estimated 6,5% of all employment on the continent being in the sector. These figures are based on Africa currently attracting just 5% of global travellers.
South African Tourism has a vested interest in collaborating and partnering with other countries to create desire and demand for Africa and is part of the 5 in 5 country strategy for growth. “The future success of tourism as an economic driver depends on the presence of policies and continental strategies for trade and investment that meet the needs of the sector and an overall business environment that is conducive to growth. It depends too on the abilities of all players from across the continent to meet, engage and support initiatives and the three-day Africa’s Travel Indaba is one of the key places to start that conversation,” says Ntshona. “There is no reason why the continent cannot double its share of the global tourism market in the next decade with a collaborative approach to the destination.”
African country products confirmed for this year include established tourism players as well as developing destinations such as the Central African Republic, Sudan and the DRC. The organising team for Africa’s Travel Indaba is working to secure further countries and are happy to negotiate to support the attendance of more products and representatives from the continent.
To register for Africa’s Travel Indaba 2018, please visit www.indaba-southafrica.co.za.
Remember to log onto the diary system as soon as possible to secure appointments with exhibitors.
[1] WTTC 2018 Annual Economic Report – Africa
]]>
Registrations for Africa’s Travel Indaba 2018, rebranded to focus on continent’s world-class tourism businesses, now open
Registration has opened for Africa’s Travel Indaba, which will transform Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre into a lively hub of activity from 8 to 10 May 2018 under the banner Africa’s Stories, Your Success.
Owned and managed by South African Tourism, Africa’s Travel Indaba has over the past 37 years established itself as the continent’s premier tourism trade show.
“We are excited to be moving into 2018 with renewed energy and focus following the rebranding of the show as Africa’s Travel Indaba. This new positioning affirms that the show belongs to the entire African travel industry, and that at its heart is stimulating tourism and inclusive economic development on our continent,” said South African Tourism’s Chief Executive Officer, Sisa Ntshona. According to Ntshona, participants have many enhancements to look forward to at Africa’s Travel Indaba 2018.
Africa’s Travel Indaba attracts about 7 000 delegates from all over the world, and last year the trade show bustled with more than 1 000 exhibiting businesses from 18 African countries, showcasing an array of travel and tourism offerings to almost 1 500 local and international buyers.
Evelyn Mahlaba, General Regional Manager looking after the Africa region at South African Tourism, added that Africa’s Travel Indaba is an important business to business marketing platform that facilitates business growth for travel trade partners across the continent. Last year’s group of buyers achieved admirable business successes that we hope to build on in 2018 for the benefit of not only South Africa’s tourism industry but also for the continent as a whole.
“We have managed to put together excellent educational for our sales staff with Sun International as well as all-inclusive travel packages that did so well that we sold them all. South African Airways gave us their ITX Fares for packaging and we managed to do an incentive trip for Standard Bank of 104 people to Durban – thanks to Indaba,” says Rob McConaghy, Managing Director at Ulendo Travel Group in Malawi.
Love for Africa, Southern Africa Travel Specialist, operating out of Zimbabwe stated that business picked up because of their participation in last year’s INDABA. “Our business for 2018 is looking phenomenal and our bookings are up. We’ve signed deals with a few more properties in South Africa and have had quite a few of our current clients add South Africa onto their itineraries,” says Erica O’Donnel, Executive Director at Love for Africa.
According to the Business Development Manager, George Ogola, The Continental Travel Group in Kenya was able to confirm a significant amount of bookings in 2017, across hotels, transfers, and excursions, which generated substantial profit for the company.
Steffi Presske, Senior Travel Consultant/Director at Gondwana Tours and Safaris in Botswana expressed an interest to participate in Africa’s Travel Indaba again this year because it is the most important trade show for the company. The company was able to make many new contacts last year and deepen existing partnerships. They have grown immensely since 2017; almost doubling turn over and employing 2 more sales agents.
Buyers from the following countries attended and participated at INDABA last year, Angola, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Significantly, said Ntshona, the 2017 event saw more than 20 000 confirmed business matchmaking meetings taking place between businesses and travel buyers – up by 47% over the previous year’s figure.
“This indicates that businesses are extracting value out of their participation in Africa’s Travel Indaba, with an online matchmaking system that closely pairs buyers’ needs with exhibitors’ offerings. This saves time and makes for a more efficient and productive trade show, where networks are expanded and business deals are sealed,” said Ntshona.
“Taking pride of place will be our Hidden Gems pavilion, which will again showcase excellence among tourism businesses from all nine provinces in South Africa. These businesses may be small in size, but are big on authentic, unforgettable travel experiences. We will also be building on the success of last year’s Lap of Luxury pavilion to roll out the red carpet for a selection of South Africa’s exclusive five-star accommodation offerings, hosted by the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa (TGCSA),” Ntshona added.
In light of the water shortage currently affecting the Western Cape (including the iconic city of Cape Town), Ntshona said: “For our industry specifically, we are taking charge and showcasing how we can meet the future now and create the ‘new normal’ in how we do tourism, sustainably and responsibly – something we have focused on for years. Even with the drought situation in the Western Cape, Cape Town and South Africa are still very much open for tourism business.”
He said the country’s and the continent’s many tourism jewels would be on proud display at Africa’s Travel Indaba. “We invite everyone who is passionate about African travel and tourism development to come and see, meet, network, do business and be inspired at Africa’s Travel Indaba 2018. We look forward to being partners in propelling our continent’s tourism industry forward, together.”Buyers are invited to beat the rush, and register online by visiting
www.indaba-southafrica.co.za.
Twitter: @travel_indaba or @SATravelTrade
Facebook: @SaTravelTrade
Website www.southafrica.net
South African Tourism is the national tourism agency responsible for the marketing of South Africa as a preferred tourist destination. It is headed by Chief Executive Officer, Mr Sisa Ntshona.
]]>
Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa
: In a coup for South Africa, Tourism Minister Tokozile Xasa was elected one of two deputy chairpersons of the Regional Commission for Africa (CAF) during the 22nd General Assembly of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) in China last week.
On the sidelines of the UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu, held from 11 to 16 September 2017, Minister Xasa was appointed deputy chair of the CAF for a two-year term alongside her counterpart from the Gambia, Amat Bah. Kenya’s Najib Balala was elected to chair the regional commission, succeeding Zimbabwe’s Walter Mzembi.
The regional tourism commissions enable member states to meet once a year to discuss concerns and formulate proposals to submit to the UNWTO for consideration.
“We extend our warm congratulations to Minister Xasa on this significant appointment. It’s a vote of confidence in the vision and leadership shown by South Africa as a major tourism player on the African continent and, indeed, on the world stage,” said South African Tourism’s Chief Executive Officer, Sisa Ntshona.
“Furthermore, to be voted into this important position by her peers on the African continent is an endorsement of Minister Xasa’s zeal in pushing the agenda of the African Union in multilateral engagements, and her passion for championing women and small businesses in the tourism sector. African tourism faces its own distinct opportunities and challenges, and we have every confidence in her ability to articulate these on the global stage,” he said.
Minister Xasa is also the convenor of tourism ministers in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), after South Africa took over the revolving chairmanship of the regional body last month.
Since 2011, she has spearheaded the National Department of Tourism’s Women in Tourism programme to upskill, empower and advance women in the tourism sector. This initiative was prompted by the slow pace of gender transformation in tourism and travel, locally as well as globally, particularly when it comes to women in key decision-making roles.
At this year’s Africa’s Travel Indaba in Durban, Minister Xasa launched the Women in Tourism 30 in 5 (known as “WiT 30in5”) public-private partnership to increase the proportion of South African women in tourism management positions to 30% in the next five years.
Significantly, 13 African countries are led by women in the tourism portfolio and on the sidelines of last week’s UNWTO General Assembly, an informal session held by these female tourism ministers took several progressive resolutions to further the Women in Tourism agenda.
Key among these decisions was Ethiopia undertaking to host a Women in Tourism conference in Addis Ababa in January 2018, to build, expand and refine the scope of this initiative from a regional point of view.
The tourism ministers also undertook to share best practice and learn from one another in promoting women in the sector, tackle continent-wide challenges such as women trafficking, and focus on connecting SMMEs with bigger industry players for mutual benefit.
Said Ntshona: “We are pleased that the vital Women in Tourism campaign has been injected with fresh impetus thanks to Minister Xasa’s election to the CAF leadership, and her determination and enthusiasm will no doubt see the elevation of this important vision on the African and global tourism agenda.”
For more info visit: www.southafrica.net
]]>