The Countdown For The African Travel Indaba Begins
Minister of Tourism – Ms Patricia Delile
Mayor of eThekwini Municipality- Cllr Cyril Xaba and all City Council Members present
Board Chairpersons of South African Tourism, Durban ICC and all Board Member of Entities
All HODs and CEOs present
Members of the Media
Ladies and Gentlemen
Sanibonani!
Today’s media launch marks the official countdown to the African Travel Indaba (ATI), the ultimate leisure tourism showcase on the continent, which is owned by South African Tourism.
As always, the ATI, which runs from May 13-15 (preceded by a Business Opportunity Networking Day), is the largest event of its kind across Africa – and will unfold at the world-famous Chief Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (ICC) and the neighbouring exhibition centre in Durban.
The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority (KZNTFA), along with our partners, Durban Tourism and the Durban ICC, have valued hosting the ATI in Durban for some four decades – and of course, we love welcoming delegates from around the world to this key event.
As you know, this is one of three “must see” tourism gatherings on the globe and we are fully supportive of the ATI, which attracts thousands of international delegates, including influential decision-making buyers, helps position KwaZulu-Natal as an important leisure tourism destination.
All roads lead to Durban
All roads will lead to Durban next month as hundreds of local and international delegates – exhibitors, buyers, staff and media – head in for ATI, which will bring an economic boost, millions to the region.
And this year’s ATI is going to be even bigger than last year’s showcase, with 805 hosted buyer applications – a 14.4% increase – representing 55 countries, received by SAT in the first two weeks of April alone. To date, 873 buyers have already been vetted and approved, with many already locking in meetings with exhibitors.
As always, hotels, B&Bs, restaurants, taxi and shuttle and tour guiding services and shops will reap the benefit of hosting ATI in Durban.
Interest is said to be surging from major markets, including from buyers in the United States, China, the United Kingdom and India. SAT reports that exhibitor interest is also stronger than ever with 163 exhibitors from 24 African countries already confirmed and with 95% of the exhibition floor space already booked.
An additional 400 square metres of exhibition space has been secured when compared to last year too.
Renewing relationships
With future business being transacted during the exhibition, old relationships will be renewed, new ones will be forged, boosting the economies of South African businesses and tourism regions as well as those of exhibiting African countries across the continent.
The benefits of ATI will also cascade down to KZNs small and medium tourism enterprises (SMMEs), which have been given the opportunity to exhibit at ATI.
This represents a wonderful opportunity for them as they will be able to interact with quality international buyers and sell their tourism products to the global market.
KZNTFA will be running our usual Ambassador Programme and this year, we will have over 30 tourism students who will help guide delegates to where they need to be during the show.
We are looking forward to hosting the popular KZN breakfast again this year. This is the must-attend event for key media and the trade and has become the ‘’unofficial opening’’ of the ATI over the years, where announcements are made about the province and where the audience is told about all the amazing things we have been up to during the year.
This year’s ATI will give guests the extra opportunity to have visually immersive experiences, where curated spaces will tell the story of the continent’s unlimited possibilities.
This visually captivating offering will also provide the perfect backdrop for engaging digital content and for our film and television sectors.
Durban – KZN, the natural home for ATI
Our current contract for hosting ATI expires this year and we are hopeful that when the next contract is announced, that Durban and KZN will once again win the bid, as we believe that the city should be recognised as the permanent home of ATI.
Not only will Durban and KZN roll out the red carpet for local media again this year, but KZNTFA and South African Tourism will be hosting media representatives from around the world, who will get the chance to sample the magic of different parts of the province beyond Durban for themselves before and after ATI.
You, the Media, are whom we are grateful to.
I must also thank you for all you do for KZN and for the country’s tourism – and for all you will do during ATI and beyond.
Thank you
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