Durban is a hive of activity as delegates from across the globe descend on its shores as the City kicks off the 2024 Edition of one of Africa’s largest tourism marketing events, Africa Travel Indaba (ATI 2024).
The 3-day trade show preceded by a dedicated Business Opportunity Networking Day (BONDay), described by South African Tourism CEO, Nombulelo Guliwe, as a pivotal precursor to ATI 2024 with the theme “Unlimited Africa,” inspired by the vast potential to network and seize new opportunities, rooted in the inclusivity of the African continent, aiming to drive collective economic growth through tourism.
Day One set off with networking amongst delegates and a series of dialogue topics with great impact on African tourism, where the following conversations were invited:
Creating Unlimited Memories – Telling Africa’s Unending Story
Unlimited Potential: Africa’s Value Proposition
Airlift Advancement in Africa
The Ties The Bind and a Culture That Unites: SMMEs – The Heartbeat of Tourism
Exploring Accessible Tourism and the Role of AI in Advancing Inclusion
Stimulating Local Economies Through the Tourism Value Chain
Hosting the ATI 2024 aligns with the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Tourism five-year Strategic Plan which responds to one of the (2019-2024) Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF) priorities: A Better Africa and the World, as the city plans to upgrade the inner city to renew business confidence and attract tourists.
This flagship event hosted the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Fish Mahlalela, as keynote speaker at BONDay over a banquet Gala Dinner at Durban’s Southern Sun Elangeni Maharani, who said it was up to the African continent to be bold about what it can offer the world.
“It is up to us as Africans to open the world’s eyes to what we have to offer as a continent and take charge of the narrative because only when we are proactive, will we control our destiny,” he said.
ATI showcases a wide variety of Africa’s best tourism products, and attracts African exhibitors, international and local buyers and media from across the world.
Mahlalela added that transformation is important, especially in the South African economy for tourism to thrive. “Transformation becomes a necessity in South Africa because there is inequality and poverty,” says Mahlalela.
The Deputy Minister alluded that although there are challenges, there is some headway being made as small businesses are being developed and tourists encouraged to visit the township businesses.
In just 14 days, South Africa will mark the country’s seventh democratic election with the country’s General Elections being held on the 29th of May 2024.
