Every year, South African Tourism, one of Flow’s biggest clients, hosts INDABA – the largest tourism marketing event in Africa. South Africa’s best tourism offerings are showcased at the four-day event, which attracts more than 13 000 local and international delegates from the travel, tourism and related industries.
As the social media agency for SAT, Flow will have a large presence of 10 team members at this year’s Indaba, which takes place in Durban from 11-14 May (apart from being the largest tourism event in Africa, it’s also one of the biggest events on Flow’s calendar).
Last year was the first INDABA that Flow covered for SAT, and we are more excited than ever for INDABA 2013. Ten Flowstars will be in Durban to cover the event for SAT on social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr and Google+. We’ll be in presentations, exhibition halls and venues, ensuring that nothing is missed and that each event receives the coverage it requires.
This year’s INDABA will host some exciting new events, including a bloggers’ conference where the travel trade will have an opportunity to learn first-hand how blogging and interaction with travel bloggers can enhance business. There’s also a new Heritage and Culture Pavilion that will showcase South Africa’s eight Unesco World Heritage Sites, presenting South Africa as a truly a world-class travel destination.
Flow has many clients in the tourism industry, and we’ve been sending teams to INDABA for several years. Flow media developer Kate Rau reflects on her experience at Indaba 2012: “I went to INDABA last year to help the Gauteng Tourism Authority produce fresh and well-written website and social media coverage of THE leisure tourism event of the year.
“Aside from superb networking opportunities encountered throughout the event, INDABA is a much-needed platform for destination marketing organisations to showcase various leisure offerings that fall within their marketing scope. The event was well organised, and as a media person I couldn’t fault the media centre in any way – it was superb!”
This year, five Flowstars – Zintle Mtyeku, Thabs Royds, Gianluca Tucci, Stuart Buchanan and I – are attending INDABA for the first time, and are excited about the opportunity to learn more about South Africa’s tourism offerings, to meet people in the industry, and to be exposed to the creativity and hard work behind every exhibitor’s stand.
Gianluca, a Flow project manager, is mostly excited about going to Durban for the first time, but also about “seeing all the different kinds of people coming together for one common purpose”.
To keep an eye on all the goings on at INDABA, follow the SAT social media platforms, including: Facebook (www.facebook.com/SATravelTrade); @SATravelTrade on Twitter; and our Google+ community, “SA Travel Trade”.
