If you are looking for a destination that offers sunshine, surfing, swimming, culture, and history, look no further than Durban, South Africa. This vibrant city is hosting the 2023 Africa’s Travel Indaba, the continent’s premier tourism trade show, from May 9 to 11 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre (Durban ICC), Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa.
The Africa’s Travel Indaba is a platform for showcasing the best of African tourism products and services, connecting buyers and sellers from across the globe, and promoting the continent’s economic and cultural recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s theme is “Shaping Africa’s Tomorrow, Through Connection Today”, reflecting the spirit of unity and collaboration that characterizes the African people. As the Minister of Tourism in South Africa, Patricia De Lille, said in her opening speech: “We are part of a common humanity and we are here bound together by a desire for shared prosperity. As Africans, together, we will craft a narrative that tells our story in our own words, sharing with the world the unique contributions we bring to the global tourism community.”
The 2023 Africa’s Travel Indaba is also a celebration of Africa Month, which commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (now the African Union) on May 25, 1963. The event honours the legacy of African leaders such as Inkosi Albert Luthuli, Africa’s first Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, who expressed his strong connection to Mother Africa; he said: “I am an African. I am bound to Africa by the ties of blood, race, history, culture and language.”
During the month of May, we celebrate Africa Month, and I would like to remind us of the inspirational words of the African Union Anthem which says:
“O Sons and Daughters of Africa, Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky Let us make Africa the Tree of Life, let us all unite and sing together to uphold the bonds that frame our destiny. Let us dedicate ourselves to fight together for lasting peace and justice on earth.”
The event also showcases the incredible ingenuity, fortitude, and magnificence of the African people, who have overcome many challenges and transformed their societies with creativity and love. As Ben Okri, the Nigerian author and poet, writes: “The most authentic thing about us, as Africans, is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love, and to be greater than our suffering.”
Africa’s Travel Indaba 2023:
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges and changes to the tourism industry, but it has also created an opportunity for innovation and collaboration. That is the message of the 2023 Africa’s Travel Indaba, the continent’s premier tourism trade show.
The 2023 Africa’s Travel Indaba is expected to attract more than 6 000 delegates from all over South Africa, Africa and the rest of the world. The event features more than 350 tourism products being showcased, 1000 buyers from across the tourism ecosystem and just under 1 000 exhibitors. The event also boasts a strong representation of African countries and tourism boards, with 21 African countries and 10 African Tourism Boards participating.
The event demonstrates that Africa can host world-class safe events in the post-pandemic era, and that it has a lot to offer to the global tourism community. The event also hopes to influence the continent’s economic and cultural trajectories through connection and collaboration.
Zimbabwe Tourism Looks to Consolidate the African Market
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Honourable Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu will lead the tourism industry at this year’s Africa’s Travel Indaba tourism trade showcase.
The exhibition, which comes hot off the heels of a successful outing for the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority in the Middle East, is aimed at promoting the Southern African region to the world. It is set to showcase a wide variety of top drawer tourism products and attract international buyers and media from across the globe.
This year’s edition will see Zimbabwe leading a strong contingent of more than 30 tourism operators, an increase from 24 that took part in last year, a position that has impressed the ZTA Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Winnie Muchanyuka. “We have seen a significant improvement from last year’s tourism sector performance, and we’ve received substantial amounts of business from the South African market. In view of this, we’re paying particular attention to that market. Our aim is to increase inflows from the region and particularly this market by at least 20% (SA contributed 292 thousand visitors into Zimbabwe last year). We are going to South Africa to consolidate and grow our regional market share. In the same vein, we’re honoured to have the Minister leading the delegation this year,” said Muchanyuka.
About Africa’s Travel Indaba
Africa’s Travel Indaba is one of the largest tourism marketing events on the African calendar and one of the top three ‘must visit’ events of its kind on the global calendar.
It showcases the widest variety of Africa’s best tourism products and attracts international buyers and media from across the world. Africa’s Travel Indaba is owned by South African Tourism and organised by Synergy Business Events (Pty) Ltd.
Africa’s Travel Indaba has won the awards for Africa’s best travel and tourism show. This award was presented by the Association of World Travel Awards.
If you are interested in attending or exhibiting at the 2023 Africa’s Travel Indaba, visit www.indaba-southafrica.co.za for more information and registration details. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with the best of African tourism and shape the continent’s tomorrow through connection today.