The 2024 Africa’s Travel Indaba, the continent’s leading travel trade show, kicked off with a bang at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa. The opening ceremony marked the official start of the trade floor, buzzing with delegates eager to connect and do business.
Unlimited Africa: A Platform for Collaboration and Growth
This year’s theme, “Unlimited Africa,” perfectly captured the vast potential of the continent’s diverse landscapes, cultures, and experiences. Tourism Minister, Honourable Patricia De Lille, emphasized the importance of Africa’s Travel Indaba in fostering collaboration, building bridges, and showcasing a positive African tourism narrative.
Record-Breaking Numbers Signal Industry Rebound
The trade show attracted an impressive number of participants: 1,261 exhibitors representing 25 African countries, alongside over 1,000 buyers from 55 countries worldwide. Notably, Guinea and Eritrea joined the showcase for the first time.
Celebrating Achievements and Looking Forward
Minister De Lille highlighted significant progress made since the previous Indaba. The government’s approval of the Tourism Sector Master Plan, including a post-pandemic recovery program, and the relaunch of the R1.2 billion Tourism Equity Fund to support emerging tourism businesses, were key achievements. She also offered a glimpse of the upcoming South African Tourism Global Brand campaign designed to further enhance the country’s reputation on the global stage.
KwaZulu-Natal: A Province Poised for Tourism Growth
KwaZulu-Natal Premier, Honourable Nomusa Dube-Ncube, emphasized the province’s strategic positioning to capitalize on the tourism industry’s recovery. With pre-pandemic levels nearly reached by the end of 2023, the outlook is positive. Dube-Ncube pointed to the World Tourism Organisation’s estimates of a 34% increase in international tourists globally in 2023, signifying a strong rebound. She further highlighted Africa’s Travel Indaba’s significant economic impact on the province, generating an estimated R3 billion contribution to the GDP between 2004 and 2022.
Building a Brighter Tourism Future Together
The 2024 Africa’s Travel Indaba concluded with Minister De Lille engaging with delegates and exhibitors, solidifying the event’s role in propelling Africa’s tourism industry towards a future brimming with unlimited potential.