This week we represented the South Coast at the most important African trade show – the Tourism Indaba – from the 12th to the 15th of May 2012.

INDABA is the annual must-visit event for anyone related to the travel industry.
The exhibition is not only the largest travel and tourism event allowing you to keep up with recent developments in the industry; it is also the one networking opportunity that you don’t want to miss.

More than 1,800 exhibitors provide great opportunity for potential business partners or clients to network.  Last year over 13,000 delegates took part, over 1,000 international delegates attended with over 600 media in attendance. We trust the 2012 will be as equally busy and productive.

Everyone you meet at INDABA is in some way are related to the tourism industry so it’s important to use the time well. This year we have an online business meeting and registration diary; new innovations are always just around the corner and it shows how important time is becoming to the trade. 

At the 2012 Global Summit held by World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) in Tokyo David Scowsill, President & CEO (WTTC) stated "We are responsible for 255 million jobs, 6 trillion dollars, which is 9% global GDP - this makes us bigger than automotive, bigger than mining and bigger than manufacturing.  For every one dollar spent in Travel & Tourism, we generate 3 dollars to the economy”. 

This gives an indication of the global importance of tourism to the economy and why trade shows are such an important component of our destination marketing mix.

The Minister of Tourism, in the budget vote speech (3 MAY 2012) informed Parliament that “in 1950, the world had 25 million international arrivals; in 2011, 980 million, and it is estimated that in 2012, there will be 1 billion international arrivals.

Within a decade, this figure is forecast to increase to 1,6 billion. International competition in the tourism market will be vigorous. Our efforts will thus require flexibility, innovation and responsiveness”. The Minister concluded by adding “The Domestic Tourism Growth Strategy (DTGS) is now in place, with a clear action plan and organisational structural capacity to support implementation. This is effectively supported by a campaign – “whatever you are looking for, it’s here” – which we launched yesterday and will not only get South Africans to want to discover more about their own country, but will also contribute to the development of a culture of tourism and the enhancement of social cohesion among South Africans. This new domestic tourism campaign now focuses on a larger cross-section of the population”.

Please join us at the first African Marine Expo at Park Rynie beach (Scottburgh) on the 19-20th May - to learn more about our marine environment - from a range of exciting educational speakers; and have a great family day out.

Have a great week in the Paradise of the Zulu Kingdom.