By Fred Felton | Apr. 16, 2025
Africa’s Travel Indaba has just wrapped up
in Durban and there have been some wonderful highlights during the show.
Here are just some of them:
BONDay
(Business Opportunity Networking Day)
The day which was hosted by South African
Tourism set the tone for the week ahead and was filled with strategic dialogue,
future-forward thinking, and lots of networking.
‘’BONDay is where Africa’s tourism
thinkers meet its doers. It’s a place to connect, collaborate and co-create the
future of tourism on our continent,’’ said Darryl Erasmus Chief Operations
Officer at South African Tourism.
Opening
Day
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| Bell ringing ceremony for the official opening of Africa's Travel Indaba 2025. | Photo: South African Tourism. |
Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025, the premier
travel and tourism trade show on the African continent, opened on Wednesday, 14th
May 2025 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. Under the theme ‘’Unlimited Africa’’, the event was
officially opened by South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile and South
Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille.
Over 1,300 exhibitors from 27 African
nations, including for the first time participants from Chad, St Helena, and
Burkina Faso met with more than 1,200 international buyers from 55 source
markets at the event in Durban.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivered
the opening address and he was joined on stage by South Africa’s Minister of
Tourism, Patricia de Lille; Mayor of eThekwini Municipality, Councillor Cyril
Xaba; KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental
Affairs, Reverend Musa Zondi; and Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Arthur Thamsanqa
Ntuli.
‘’This is an Africa where
intra-continental trade, investment, and tourism are no longer mere aspirations
but rather everyday realities. Tourism is a significant economic engine, a
catalyst for social change, and a cornerstone of inclusive growth. Let us
demonstrate to the world that Africa is ready for business. With these words, I
would like to officially declare the Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025 open!’’
The Deputy President also highlighted that
travel and tourism contributed 6.8% to Africa’s GDP in 2023, with projections
indicating a rise to 10.4% by 2030. He also noted that South Africa’s G20
Presidency, with over 200 related meetings hosted, is a prime opportunity to
spotlight African perspectives on global economic and development issues.
‘’Africa’s Travel Indaba is a catalyst for
inclusive growth, job creation, and sustainable development, not only in South Africa
but throughout Africa. Tourism remains a powerful economic driver,’’ said South
Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille.
The welcoming ceremony finished with the
traditional ringing of the bell, a symbolic gesture that resonated through the
halls of the Inkosi Albert Luthuli ICC, officially marking the start of
business and three days of intensive networking, deal-making, and showcasing
the very best of ‘’Unlimited Africa’’.
Events
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| Africa's Travel Indaba 2025 African Tourism Ministers' Roundtable. | Photo: South African Tourism. |
Tourism leaders convened for the much
anticipated African Ministers’ Roundtable at Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025. This
event was hosted by South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, the
panel featured a distinguished lineup including Márcio de Jesus Lopes Daniel,
Angola’s Minister of Tourism; Sikhumbuzo Dlamini, Eswatini’s Minister
Tinkhundla Administration and Development; Fredson Bacar, Mozambique’s
Secretary of State of Tourism; and Rodney Sikumba, Zambia’s Minister of
Tourism.
The spirit of collaboration was a common
theme at the roundtable. ‘’We are not here to compete, we are here to
collaborate,’’ remarked Minister Sikhumbuzo Dlamini of Eswatini.
There was a call for a united Africa.
‘’As African tourism ministers, we have a
singular resolve to work as a team, there must be cohesion and strength in
numbers. We’ve also expanded Zambia’s visa-free access from 42 to 167 countries
and believe it’s time to open the skies so people can travel more freely across
the continent,’’ noted Zambia’s Minister of Tourism, Rodney Sikumba.
Fredson Bacar, Mozambique’s Secretary of
State for Tourism, reinforced the importance of regional partnerships, citing
the ZIMOZA Transfrontier Park, a collaboration between Mozambique, Zimbabwe and
Zambia.
Angola’s Minister of Tourism, Márcio de
Jesus Lopes Daniel called for the implementation of long discussed programmes
like the open skies policy and free visa policies.
Minister de Lille confirmed that pressure
is being applied through the African Union and the African Continental Free
Trade Agreement to open the skies.
Africa’s Travel Indaba proved that it is
more than just a trade show; it is an incubator of ideas, crucial for
partnerships and a powerful symbol of Africa’s commitment to shaping its own
tomorrow, through connections today.
Elsewhere at Africa’s Travel Indaba the
eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba welcomed Africa’s Travel
Indaba at the Durban-KZN Business Breakfast.
 |
| The eThekwini Municipality Mayor, Councillor Cyril Xaba delivering a keynote at the Durban-KZN Business Breakfast at Africa's Travel Indaba 2025. | Photo: Supplied. |
The breakfast was a pivotal engagement to
connect, reflect and chart the course forward with key stakeholders.
‘’This gathering is far more than a mere
discussion forum – it serves as the driving force behind Africa’s tourism
aspirations. It is a dynamic continental platform that stimulates investment,
facilitates trade opportunities, and highlights the rich diversity and
excellence of African destinations. This year we seek to position our city not
just as a destination – but as a dynamic, investable ecosystem where culture,
commerce, and community converge,’’ said eThekwini Municipality Mayor,
Councillor Cyril Xaba.
Speed
Marketing
Africa’s Travel Indaba also provides a
wonderful platform for tourism products to market their business to a host of
buyers at various Speed Marketing sessions which are held over 3 days. The
product representative had 4 minutes to pitch their business before a loud
noise signalled for them to leave the stage.
 |
| At Africa's Travel Indaba there was plenty of music to entertain delegates. | Photo: Fred Felton. |
Products included St Francis Tourism which
has a Calamari festival, uShaka Marine World Theme Park which has a Village
Walk shopping centre, Aquarium and Wet n’ Wild with a DJ. Other highlights
included Timamoon Lodge which features 7 magnificent
villas, a hidden gem; Goldfields Game
Ranch have guides than can speak Mandarin to cater for Chinese tourists.
The
Stats
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| The wrap-up media conference at the end of Africa's Travel Indaba 2025. | Photo: South African Tourism. |
At the wrap-up media conference at the end
of Africa’s Travel Indaba, Thembisile Sehlolo, Chief Marketing Officer of South
African Tourism, together with Sibusiso Gumbi, Acting Chief Executive Officer
of KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Film Authority; Winile Mntungwa, Deputy Head of
Durban Tourism and Sandile Makhanya, Acting Marketing & Communications
Executive of Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (Durban
ICC), addressed the media.
‘’We are exceptionally proud to have once
again delivered the premier showcase of the African continent’s diverse tourism
products and experiences,’’ said Sehlolo.
Mntungwa said: ‘’The economic ripple effect was felt far
beyond the city centre, benefitting township and rural tourism enterprises –
both formal & informal.’’
‘’I am pleased to say that KwaZulu-Natal
has hosted another very successful Africa’s Travel Indaba with a record number
of delegates, international buyers and airlines attending this year,’’ noted
Gumbi.
The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Film
Authority also signed MOUs with eSwatini Tourism and Maloti-Drakensberg
Transfrontier conservation Area Joint Marketing Agreement.
Current figures (still to be audited)
indicate that Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025 hosted more than 9,990 attendees,
marking an impressive 7.7% increase compared to 9,280 delegates that attended
in 2024 with over 24 500 quality meetings held. The event attracted 1,348
exhibitors and 1037 buyers, with both exhibitors and international buyer
numbers being the highest recorded in the past four years. A total of 27
African countries participated, including newcomers Chad, St Helena and Burkina
Faso.
Makhanya at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli
International Convention Centre noted that ‘’Africa’s Travel Indaba is
undeniably our premier event. As the ICC, we are deeply committed to ensuring
that this trade event showcases Africa to the world and contributes
significantly and sustainably to our local economy.’’
For more information visit: www.indaba-southafrica.co.za
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