Flow clients focus on specific goals at Africa’s Travel Indaba

More than 1 000 exhibitors and 1 500 buyers attended Africa’s Travel Indaba 2019, held at Durban’s International Convention Centre from 2 to 4 May. Among them were a number of Flow clients, each with different goals in mind for the three-day event.

In his opening speech, Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom asked whether South Africa was ready to welcome a projected 21-million international tourists by 2030.

The World Tourism Organisation, the United Nations agency that promotes responsible, sustainable and accessible tourism, predicts that Africa will increase its tourism share from the current 5% to 7% of all global arrivals. This would equate to 126-million arrivals, almost twice as many tourists as the continent currently sees.

The theme for this year’s Indaba, “Africa’s Stories, Your Success”, highlights the importance of being able to share our own stories with the world. “Too often, the real stories of Africa are not told and not heard,” said Hanekom.

Flow clients Harties Cableway, Rhulani Safari Lodge, MalaMala Game Reserve, the Northern Cape Tourism Authority, Maropeng and Gautrain all attended Africa’s Travel Indaba 2019.

Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom (right) and his deputy, Elizabeth Thabethe (left), on their walkabout among exhibitors at the Durban International Exhibition Centre during Africa’s Travel Indaba 2019. (Image: Flow Communications)

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Cradle of Humankind stand was a hive of activity, with much networking going on. (Image: Maropeng)

Rhulani Safari Lodge owner Marisa Silva (centre) made the most of the opportunity to meet people she plans to do business with, as she believes face-to-face interaction is a “game-changer”. (Image: Flow Communications)

Ronel le Roux of the Northern Cape’s Die Kliphuis Restaurant en Herberg in Fraserburg promoted her venue to off-road enduro-biking and mountain-biking enthusiasts. (Image: Northern Cape Tourism Authority)

Aleta Moloi (centre), digital specialist for the Gautrain Management Agency, was all about establishing corporate partnerships with a variety of stakeholders in order to increase the Gautrain's ridership. (Image: Gautrain Management Agency)

The team from MalaMala Game Reserve made the most of the meetings schedule at Indaba 2019, with back-to-back meetings at their stand throughout the event. (Image: Flow Communications)

The Northern Cape Tourism Authority stand saw constant interaction, with visitors learning more about the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park’s new international dark sky sanctuary, the !Ae!Hai Kalahari Heritage Park. (Image: Northern Cape Tourism Authority)

Janine Muthusamy (right), the general manager of sales and marketing at Maropeng, shared industry insights with Thabo Mokhele, the deputy director of marketing for the Cradle of Humankind. (Image: Maropeng)

Harties Cableway general manager Jack Lester (left) was focused on seeing the cableway included in tour packages, and on growing the attraction’s local, regional and international market, with a specific emphasis on Botswana. (Image: Harties Cableway)