The Chief Executive Officer of the Botswana Tourism Board, Myra Sekgororoane, has led a Botswana Tourism delegation and 42 tour operators to attend the three day INDABA fair, in Durban, South Africa, which started yesterday.
The fair will end on the 13th of May 2008.
INDABA is the largest tourism marketing event on the African calendar and one of the top three ‘must visit’ events of its kind on the global calendar. Ranging from accommodation providers to tour operators and safari companies, the fair will showcase the widest variety of Southern Africa’s best tourism products over the three day period. Indaba also attracts international visitors and media from across the world.
With the 2010 Soccer World Cup just around the corner, a lot of attention is focused on South Africa to see if the country can deliver as a safe, hospitable venue that can cope with big events. Indaba 2008 is expected to prove that it can do just that and also put South Africa on the map as a destination of choice for tourists across the globe.
“Botswana has been participating at this fair for over 15 years and has, over the years, reaped benefits as attested by operators who report an increase in their business due to their participation alongside the Board,” said Keitumetse Setlang, Botswana Tourism Board Public Relations and Communications Manager.
INDABA fair started in 1979 in Johannesburg and moved to Durban in 1992 where it has been since. From humble beginnings of 166 exhibitors in 1986, she said the show has now grown to an exhibitor base of 1841 in 2007.
With only a few days to go, South African Tourism’s annual premier travel show has already attracted about 14 percent more visitors to the show as compared to last year.
“The overall number of registered visitors is 3777 compared to last year’s 2 922. Both local and international media registrations have collectively gone up by 17 percent from 316 to 385,” said Sindile Xulu, Country Manager, and Domestic at South African Tourism.
According to Xulu, this show affords operators in the industry an opportunity to showcase their products, forge links with international travel trade buyers and explore joint venture opportunities with other international operators. This in turn helps the Country and the Board to achieve its objective of growing in bound tourism, she added.
INDABA has a dedicated following of local and international media who provide extensive coverage of the exhibition for international markets through radio, television, newspaper and dedicated travel publications.
Botswana will host a networking event on the 11th May at the IMAX Theater to showcase The No1 Ladies Detective Agency movie to some Tour Operators as well as travel and general media who will be at the fair.
“This is an important evening during which Botswana-based operators get to network and establish more contacts with various operators. Entertainment during the evening will be by a Botswana Traditional Dance Troupe, Molomatsebe,” said Setlang.
