As the 40-day countdown to INDABA 2017 begins, South African Tourism is putting the final touches on an event that will foster closer collaboration and targeted business interactions than ever before. This will result in a more productive trade show for buyers, exhibitors and media alike.
INDABA, Africa’s leading travel show, returns to the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban from 16 to 18 May 2017, sporting a more streamlined programme and improved floor layout to make it easier for the world to come and sample the tourism treasures Africa has to offer.
Through the convenient online diary and matchmaking system, delegates can use technology to set up pre-scheduled meetings with buyers or exhibitors that may match their needs, saving time and enabling them to get the best out of the show.
For the first time, this digital platform has also been extended to media, meaning journalists can now schedule one-on-one meetings with exhibitors of interest to secure the stories they want to tell about Africa’s tourism industry. A new INDABA app will also function as a one-stop digital resource for updates, news and events.
This year’s heightened focus on matching like-minded tourism industry players is aimed at driving successful business deals while helping to showcase the kaleidoscope of product options on offer.
For instance, the Hidden Gems pavilion will introduce the world’s travel buyers and visitors to small tourism enterprises from each of South Africa’s nine provinces that may otherwise have remained undiscovered, in the hope of encouraging a broader range of authentic tourism experiences to be included in tours to South Africa.
Delegates at the trade show will be exposed to the full breadth of Africa’s tourism offerings, including high-end products at the Tourism Grading Council’s new luxury pavilion. This feature will cater to global buyers who are on the lookout for the premier five-star offerings many destinations on the continent are famed for.
Apart from the pre-scheduled meetings, buyers will have the chance to meet with exhibitors during the morning speed marketing sessions on each of the three show days. Here, participating exhibitors will be grouped according to themes such as lap of luxury, scenic outdoors and award winners before making short presentations on their offerings. These sessions are an excellent way for buyers to ask questions and learn more about exhibitors – many of whom are small businesses.
Media organisations will discover an abundance of challenging and thought-provoking content in the series of Conversations at INDABA 2017. Leaders and influencers from the local and global industry will take part in riveting panel discussions around topical issues and their impact on African tourism.
Because this is a continental showpiece, INDABA’s focus on African destinations gives visitors a chance to become acquainted with exciting product developments throughout the continent. Industry players from more than 17 African countries are taking part, including Angola, Botswana, the DRC, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Réunion, Seychelles, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Anyone with an interest in African travel is invited to register to attend this landmark African travel show at the Durban ICC, and be part of celebrating and promoting an industry that is growing, that is thriving and that is of worthy of the global acclaim it is receiving.
To register as an exhibitor, buyer or media delegate, or to simply learn more about Africa’s longest-running and internationally recognised leisure travel trade show, please visit www.indaba-southafrica.co.za
Follow us on Twitter: @SATravelTrade and use the hashtag #INDABA2017 and on
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For further information contact
Thandiwe Mathibela at South African Tourism:
Thandiwe@southafrica.net
Website: www.southafrica.net
Tel: +27 11-895-3177
INDABA is Africa’s top tourism trade show. The show, which has been running for more than 35 years, attracts more than 7000 delegates representing the top tourism products and experiences from all over Africa, as well as the world’s leading travel buyers and travel and tourism media. The 2017 show will run at the Durban ICC from Monday 15 May (pre-conference day) to Thursday 18 May (16-18 May are the public trade show dates). INDABA is organised by South African Tourism.