SPEAKING at the INDABA Travel and Tourism Show’s opening ceremony last week, President Jacob Zuma announced that Durban has secured the rights to host the show for the next five years.
Commenting on the announcement, chief executive officer of the Durban ICC, Lindiwe Rakharebe, said:
“We are thrilled, honoured and proud to be the host venue for Indaba for the next five years. Having been home to Africa’s Top Travel show since 1992, it is wonderful news that we will remain its host for the next five years at least.”
She said Indaba was one of the highlights of the year and the ideal showcase of the tourism offerings available in Durban and KwaZulu-Natal. The event, she said, was also the premier platform to discuss the growth and development of the tourism industry in the years ahead.
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Mayor, Zandile Gumede was delighted that the city had won the five-year bid to host the Indaba until 2022. She said this was an affirmation that the city had the resources, the world-class infrastructure and the capabilities of growing the tourism Indaba to new heights.
“We strongly believe that the new international direct flights, the city’s new infrastructural developments, new hotel investments and major tourism investment in the north of Durban have all attributed to the success of this win,” she said.
Renowned as one of the top three travel events in the world, the event is expected to generate an estimated R500 million in economic impact for the city and province over the next five years.
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Rakharebe also expressed her gratitude to the other bid-parties, the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal, the eThekwini Municipality, and Durban Tourism for their partnership in the bid.
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