Less Than Twenty Days To Go To Indaba 2015...The African Travel And Tourism Sector Is Looking Forward To INDABA 2015

By Philip Odiakose

The South African travel and tourism industry is counting down to INDABA 2015, the definitive travel and tourism tradeshow that gives the sector the single best annual platform to do business. INDABA is the one platform geared towards growing an already robust industry whose contribution to prosperity across Africa is beyond dispute.

INDABA’s exhibitor list is impressive. It represents the widest depth and breadth of African and South African travel and tourism offerings. Products and experiences in each of South Africa’s provinces are richly represented.

Tour operators are there to sell authentic and amazing South African experiences: from big five game viewing; to scuba diving; river rafting; arts and crafts safaris; and living it up in the rich and culturally diverse texture of South Africa’s amazing, capable and welcoming cities.

Accommodation establishments are there by the dozen: from affordable, cheerful backpacker establishments and family-run inns, right up the very last word in sumptuous luxury. There are exhibitors whose offerings are special and unique: cooking safaris, hot air balloon rides, white shark cage diving and luxury train trips to name but four from a list of dozens.

The exhibitors really do represent the very cream – and the exciting and alluring best – of South Africa’s fantastic destination experiences. They are each there to put out a welcoming hand to buyers and get down to the business of marketing a destination so that they, the people they employ, and the industry they work in can continue thriving.

Space on the tradeshow floor for pan-African exhibitors outside of the SADC zone has grown from 335 square metres last year to 350 square metres this year.

Newcomers, Office National du Tourisme des Comores join nine other pan-African exhibitors who return to INDABA this year. They come from Egypt in the north; from Kenya and Rwanda in the east; from Senegal on the bulge of the continent; Nigeria in the west; and Ethiopia on the horn of Africa.

Together with their exhibiting counterparts from many other pan-African destinations, from the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and from South Africa they represent the soul of Africa’s tourism sector.

And they are all united in driving a continent forward through tourism.

INDABA takes place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, from May 9 to 11, 2015 .

For more information on INDABA 2015, go to www.indaba-southafrica.co.za/ and follow #INDABA2015 on Twitter.