Indaba fever is building as international trade delegates register for the annual travel trade show being held in Durban, South Africa, May 11 to 14.
The show provides an opportunity for travel buyers worldwide to meet southern Africa’s top tourism suppliers as well as to learn how to improve their marketing and sales of the unique products and destinations featured in the region.
South African Tourism CEO Thulani Nzima confirmed last year that Indaba would not be changing its format as it had announced earlier in the year. He did state, however, that the four-day event would be subject to “fundamental changes” beginning in 2014.
Recent calls for the show to be extended to the rest of Africa have given rise to mixed views, with many regular attendees saying a pan-African show, though attractive to trade buyers, would be nothing more than a pipe dream as the organizers would struggle to coordinate the logistics required for an expanded show.
On the one hand, exhibitors feel the sheer number of Indaba exhibitors showcasing southern African product is already overwhelming. On the other, there are those who believe a pan-African show would mitigate the perceived high cost of attending the show, already prohibitive according to some international buyers.
South African Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalwyk believes the rich potential for the travel industry’s growth would be best realized if destinations across the African continent are united, giving the world “one irresistible
offering.” Van Schalkwyk was speaking at the business tourism equivalent of Indaba, Meetings Africa, with this year’s show being held under the theme “Advancing Africa Together.”
Betty Jo Currie, owner of Atlanta-based luxury travel agency Currie & Co. Travels Unlimited, first attended Indaba in 2005. Currie said she believes the Moroccan trade show, Pure, has eaten into the attendance at Indaba.
“Hosting a pan-African show is a terrific idea. It would definitely bring more U.S. advisers if all safari territories were covered.”
According to Gregg Truman, South African Airways’ vice president of marketing, the airline communicates consistently about the trade show and special airfares that it extends to the trade to attend Indaba.
“We also work closely with SA Tourism to invite and host a diverse range of travel buyers, some old and new, to attend Indaba. The show is open to travel agents throughout the world, and South African offers special airfares from North America so that these agents are able to attend and broaden their consumer offerings in our market.”
South African is offering roundtrip airfares for Indaba from $599 for economy class or $5,199 for premium business class from New York Kennedy or Washington Dulles to Johannesburg or Durban. Travel must commence from May 4 to 10, and return travel must be completed by May 27.