indaba 2010

High expectations for Indaba 2010

Brad Morgan

25 February 2010

Indaba, a showcase of South African products and services for the international travel trade, is one of the largest tourism marketing events events in the world. This year's event takes place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre in Durban from 8 to 11 May.

Indaba attracts visitors and media from across the world. Overseas interest is bound to be especially high this year, as the event comes just a month before the kick-off of the 2010 Fifa World Cup™.

It is rated as one of the top three travel shows in the world, and certainly Africa's number one, and coverage of the event is provided in local and international markets through radio, television, newspaper and dedicated travel publications.

Exhibits

Exhibitions take place at two venues: the Inkhosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre (formerly the Durban International Convention Centre) will hosts exhibits including accommodation, tour operators, game lodges, transport, online travel, media publications and industry associations. Outdoor exhibitors include transport, camping and safari companies.

At the Durban Exhibition Centre, exhibits will be shown by provincial authorities and provincial products.

"Indaba is our flagship travel trade show and Africa's top travel show," says Sugen Pillay, South African Tourism's global manager for events.

"It hosts approximately 12 000 international visitors from the trade, media and consumer, so it is the principal communications platform in the lead-up to the 2010 Fifa World Cup™.

'Golden opportunity'

"It is our golden opportunity to show the world what we have here – fabulous cuisine, wonderful weather, beautiful beaches, big capable cities, world-class infrastructure ... basically everything that's good about South Africa."

Roshene Singh, chief marketing Officer for South African Tourism, describes Indaba as "the engine room of our destination marketing work.

"This year's Indaba, however, takes place a month before kick-off for the 2010 Fifa World Cup," says Singh. "It's our very last opportunity to show the world how ready and excited the travel industry is for the big global event of June and July 2010."

Numbers

Since 1995, the number of exhibitors at Indaba has increased significantly. In that year, there were 410 exhibiting companies. In 2002, the 1 000-mark was destroyed as 1 307 exhibitors took part. The largest number of exhibitors so far was the 1 755 recorded in 2007.

Indaba has also proved itself as a great source of media exposure, with 680 journalists being accredited in 2009. In addition, there were more than 2 300 international visitors out of a total of 12 000.

2009

Last year's event was hailed as one of the most successful Indabas yet, and that was despite the global economic crisis which affected the attendance figures.

Didi Moyle, acting CEO of South African Tourism, said afterwards: "It's been a quality rather than a quantity Indaba. We have had numerous reports of brisk business and keen interest in our destination and products ahead of the Confederations Cup and 2010."

Now that the 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup has come and gone and been deemed a big success by world football's governing body and the international media, the expectations for Indaba 2010 and the Fifa World Cup are similar: quality products.

The show times for Indaba 2010 are from 09:00 to 18:00 from 8 to 10 May, while on 11 May the hours are from 09:00 to 16:00.

CREDITS

Many thanks to the Author and the tremendous work done at the South Africa.info Web site from who we have taken this article. Please visit www.southafrica.info for all the extra stuff on Indaba and many other exciting things that happen here.