Close to 625 buyers are attending Africa’s Travel Indaba 2022, which kicked off yesterday (Monday, May 2) at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre & Durban Exhibition Centre in Durban, KwaZulu Natal.
Over 20 000 meetings have been confirmed on the matchmaking diary system, matching the right buyers with the right exhibitors.
An upbeat Themba Khumalo, South African Tourism Acting CEO, expressed delight at the interest that the rest of Africa and the world has once again shown in Africa’s Travel Indaba, especially since the show had to take a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Delegates from all over the world have arrived in Durban this week and we are as excited as the rest of the continent to tell our stories of resilience and beauty while we partner and collaborate in order to move Africa forward,” he said.
Khumalo said the four-day programme was filled with opportunities to provide invaluable outcomes for all the delegates – from the Business Talks focusing on a number of tourism-related topics for the advancement of the sector, to the speed marketing sessions aimed at showcasing an array of small business from across South Africa.
Acting CEO of Tourism KwaZulu Natal, Phindile Makwakwa said the province was “ready and excited” to once again be the host province for Africa’s Travel Indaba.
“The show will contribute immensely to the KZN’s tourism recovery. This translates to a much needed economic boost for the province.
“Tourism KZN, working together with our partners Durban Tourism and the Durban ICC, will ensure that international buyers, media and all delegates know that our destination is definitely ready to host our international visitors, with an overabundance of diverse and unique tourism offerings,” she added.
Phillip Sithole, Deputy City Manager for Economic Development and Planning Cluster in eThekwini Municipality, issued further assurances that the city’s key tourism infrastructure affected during the recent floods were now fully functional
“Hosting Indaba gives the City of Durban an opportunity to rebuild the tourism sector following many challenges such as the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, the July 2021 civil unrest and the recent floods.”
A highlight is the Sustainability Village which has recreated a market atmosphere unlike any other, with South African vendors selling locally-crafted goods ranging from ladies wear to African-inspired crockery.
