DURBAN ICC IS THE HOME FOR AFRICA’S TRAVEL INDABA FOR NEXT THREE YEARS
“The signature venue for Africa’s Travel Indaba is waiting to warmly welcome thousands of delegates for the next three years.” – Durban ICC CEO Lindiwe Rakharebe
The world-class Durban ICC has firmly entrenched itself as the home of Africa’s Travel Indaba – the iconic leisure trade show, owned by South African Tourism, to create market access for the vast array of African leisure tourism products.
Africa’s Travel Indaba will be returning to Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre for the next three years following a signing ceremony to confirm the venue until 2025.
Registration for Africa’s Travel Indaba 2023 opened on 12 December 2023. “Africa’s Travel Indaba will once again see Durban’s Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre turn into a lively hub of activity from 9 to 11 May 2023” Themba Mzilikazi Khumalo said.
Present at the signing ceremony were South African Tourism Acting Chief Executive Officer Themba Mzilikazi Khumalo, Tourism KZN Acting Chief Executive Officer Nhlanhla Khumalo, eThekwini Municipality City Manager Musa Mbhele and Durban ICC Chief Executive Officer Lindiwe Rakharebe.
Owned and managed by South African Tourism and hosted in partnership with Tourism KZN, the eThekwini Municipality and Durban’s ICC, Africa’s Travel Indaba is a big economic contributor to the City of Durban and the greater KZN province.
“In 2022 we hosted Africa’s Travel Indaba for the first time after a two-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic and we were excited to return with renewed energy and focus. Going into 2023, we are thrilled to have officially re-affirmed our journey for the next few years and beyond with our long-standing partners,” Themba Mzilikazi Khumalo said.
“Africa’s Travel Indaba contributes to our country’s economy and plays an important role in advancing the growth of our continent’s tourism sector.”
Nhlanhla Khumalo said: “Africa’s Travel Indaba brings thousands of travel buyers from across the world to our province and plays a pivotal role in helping us to implement our Tourism Sector Recovery Plan, particularly in reviving our international markets.
This trade show is also key in the development of our tourism small, medium and micro enterprises that are given the opportunity to showcase their products and forge deals that can grow their tourism businesses.”
eThekwini mayor Mxolisi Kaunda said: “We welcome the return of Africa’s largest travel show to Durban. Africa’s Travel Indaba is the perfect platform to promote South African products. As registration is now officially open, we invite businesses in the tourism sector not to miss this opportunity and register early in order to fully explore opportunities to meet new clients next year and expose their work.”
Given Durban’s excellent weather and convenience for connectivity, the multiple-award-winning Durban ICC, an icon of sophistication, class, innovation, service excellence, and versatility, has been the venue for the tourism expo for more than two decades.
Rakharebe said Africa’s Travel Indaba is a great showcase of the diverse tourism products South Africa and the continent has to offer and brings together local and international stakeholders in the tourism sector. The Indaba will allow the Durban ICC to continue making its valuable contribution to the economy, providing employment and sustaining many livelihoods in the tourism sector’s broad value chain.
“The 112 000-square metre Durban ICC, incorporating the Durban ICC Arena, and Durban Exhibition Centre, has established itself as the signature venue for Africa’s Travel Indaba and we are ready and waiting to warmly welcome thousands of delegates who will engage in business and secure deals,” she said.
Issued by: The Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (Durban ICC)
For more information contact: Durban ICC Acting Marketing & Communications Executive – Sandile Makhanya, 031 360 1192 or sandilema@icc.co.za