INDABA DELIVERS FOR LOCAL TOURISM
WITH more exhibitors, buyers and international media than ever before, this year’s Africa Travel Indaba produced memorable highlights and excellent results during its three-day run at the Durban ICC.
The focus on the SMME sector was strengthened when buyers, international guests and established hospitality industry leaders were able to network, connect and create lucrative deals with small and big business.
Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN) exhibited alongside 10 SMMEs with the aim of accelerating inclusive growth in the tourism industry. The economic direct spend of Indaba is projected to be about R53 million, with some 200 part time jobs created.
Developing SMME sector
TKZN acting CEO Phindile Makwakwa said this year Indaba ensured that there was a strong focus on positioning SMMEs and affording them the opportunity to engage with big business.
“This was a very successful Indaba and it kicked off on a high note with the announcement that BA was going to start direct flights from Heathrow to Durban. The United Kingdom market is keen on a collaborative relationship with Durban and that is critical and welcomed.
“During this Indaba, we also positioned our marketing on the different routes offered in KZN.”
More than 2 000 meetings took place every hour between buyers and promoters, accommodation places and other investors. “They (buyers) could see the potential of the Africa Travel Indaba as a platform, where they knew they would find the best of African products under one roof,” said Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, the chief convention bureau officer at South African Tourism (SAT).
“In Africa, we understand how to collaborate best. Ubuntu (the bond of sharing) says it all; we are the continent that moves together,” she said.
The event attracted a total of some 7 000 delegates: exhibitors, buyers, media and various stakeholders, policy makers and interest groups.
There were 1 120 exhibitors (228 of them first-timers) from 22 African countries and a record 16 African national tourism boards, including South Africa, on show.
And there were 1 747 buyers - 200 more than last year - the allimportant delegates who have the job of scouting for tourism products to go into their glossy holiday brochures.
Business was booming in the exhibition halls and meeting venues as buyers visited exhibition stands to see “what’s new”. Delegates held pre-planned or “walk-in” meetings and attended briefings, while the 500 media who had flown in to get stories were kept busy telling the world about the African tourism market.
The UK is the region’s key source market and the ecstatic local hospitality industry remains upbeat about the dramatic development, as it will boost tourism, while local manufacturers will be able to send their products direct to the UK.
The KZN MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Sihle Zikalala, told how the region wanted to have at least R65 billion invested into tourism projects by 2022.
He outlined key investment projects that would help the region, including South Africa’s “5 in 5” plan (an additional five million tourists in five years). Some of the projects are in Durban - including the R40-billion Point Waterfront Development - while others are elsewhere in the province.
SMME networking
As part of the tourism authority’s access to markets focus, TKZN hosted two specially arranged networking events. The first was held at the TKZN business hub, where SMME exhibitors got a chance to meet the all-important international buyers. Siphokazi Thiam, who runs the three-star graded La Teranga Guesthouse in Kokstad (which has a Lizela Award under its belt) and is now expanding to Margate as part of her five-year plan, met up with Nigerian travel business owner, Olusina Francis Daodu at the session.
She was hopeful that the meeting would prove fruitful with business eventually coming her way.
The second session took the form of a networking evening aimed at encouraging SMMEs to share networks, contacts and lessons among one another.