Durban to flex its tourism muscles as current Africa's Travel Indaba contract reaches a conclusion
Image: Picture: Tumi Pakkies/ Independent Newspapers
The vibrant city of Durban has once again welcomed delegates from across the continent as Africa's Travel Indaba officially commenced at the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC).
This year's event was graced by high-profile dignitaries, including the Deputy President Paul Mashatile, the Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli and the KZN MEC for Economic Development.
They were joined by Tourism and Environmental Affairs Reverend Musa Zondi, Durban Mayor Cyril Xaba, and South African Tourism CEO, Nombulelo Guliwe, who all converged to highlight the importance of tourism in driving economic growth.
Durban has hosted the Indaba, South African Tourism's flagship annual event, for over three decades, solidifying its position as a key player in the continent's tourism landscape.
With the current contract to host the Indaba concluding this year, the city is keen to demonstrate its value as a dynamic investment hub ready for business.
Addressing delegates, Xaba declared: 'Durban is more than just a destination; it is a gateway.'
He added that this year, they are projecting significant achievements, with expectations to exceed last year's figures by welcoming over 9,600 delegates and generating approximately R232 million in direct spend, injecting an anticipated R575 million into Durban's local economy.
'These numbers are not mere statistics,' Xaba emphasised. 'They are a powerful endorsement of tourism as a key driver for economic transformation in the city and the province.'
This year's event is themed 'Unlimited Africa", where the focus extends beyond tourism to encompass the intertwining of culture, commerce, and community.
Reverend Zondi reaffirmed the province's commitment to positioning the Indaba as a permanent fixture within its borders.
'We remain hopeful and committed to ensuring that Africa's Travel Indaba becomes a signature event on the international tourism calendar,' he noted.
Tourism is not just a buzzword - it stands as a cornerstone of South Africa's economy and plays a vital role in national and provincial development strategies.
KwaZulu-Natal's strategic coastal location enhances its tourism potential, making the province a frontrunner in marine and coastal tourism, heritage routes, and blue economy innovations.
Ntuli also took the platform to express pride in hosting the event.
He emphasised Durban's pivotal role in global tourism, highlighting that in 2024, KZN welcomed 3.2 million domestic visitors and 620,000 international guests, generating over R2 billion in revenue.
'This didn't happen by chance. It was the result of sustained effort: in infrastructure, in marketing, in partnerships,' said Ntuli.
Durban is bidding for a further five-year term to host Africa's Travel Indaba.
The city and its leaders are lobbying earnestly to establish it as the permanent home for this prestigious event, underscoring the critical need to promote and showcase the continent's diverse tourism offerings.
In a landscape where tourism can be a transformative force, Africa's Travel Indaba serves as a pivotal platform to unite stakeholders and innovate.
As delegates share ideas and forge partnerships, the prospects for African tourism shine brighter than ever, setting the stage for an era of growth and opportunity.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Eyewitness News
4 hours ago
- Eyewitness News
Lamola assures SA exporters govt won't ignore their concerns over US tariffs
JOHANNESBURG - International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has moved to assure South African exporters that the government won't ignore their concerns over the impact of the hefty United States tariffs on their operations and bottom lines. Lamola revealed part of a package of interventions for South African exporters expected to be hardest hit by the tariffs. This includes farmers and manufacturers. While trade negotiations are continuing, government said an economic response package will help cushion the blow. ALSO READ: Govt intervening to cushion blow of harsh US tariffs on local businesses - Ramaphosa Lamola said this includes measures to assist companies to absorb the tariff and facilitate long-term growth strategies to protect jobs and productive capacity in South Africa. "We are also working with the Department of Labour on measures to mitigate potential job losses, using existing instruments such as the UIF that can be adjusted to respond to the current challenges." Lamola was joined by Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau, who said the localisation fund support stands ready to provide targeted competitiveness and efficiency support. "The fact that the localisation support fund is on board, the department of labour is on board, in terms of modelling the support packages, seeks to mitigate the impact of these decisions."

IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Rand stabilises at R18/$1 as looming US tariffs raise economic concerns
The looming 30% tariff on South African goods—scheduled to take effect on August 7—has raised concerns over the viability of a number of critical export sectors. Image: Pixabay The rand stabilised around R18.00 to the US dollar on Monday following a turbulent weekend when it fell to its lowest level in three months at R18.36/$1 on Friday. The volatility came after investors assessed the grim implications of potential higher tariffs on South African exports to the United States, a move that could significantly impact the nation's economy. The looming 30% tariff on South African goods—scheduled to take effect on August 7—has raised concerns over the viability of a number of critical export sectors. With US imports including an array of products such as cars, iron, steel goods, wine, and citrus fruits, the ramifications of this tariff could reverberate through multiple layers of the South African economy. The US ranks as South Africa's second-largest bilateral trading partner, following China. However, the rand strengthened by 1.05% to R19.97/$1 by 09h15 before stabilising around R18.02/$1 in the afternoon, R20.84/€1 and R23.96/£1. It comes after the SA Reserve Bank cut its benchmark interest rate by another 25 basis points to 7.00% on Thursday, mainly reflecting concerns about the potential adverse impact of US tariffs on the struggling economy. Governor Lesetja Kganyago also said the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) will now aim for inflation expectations to settle at the bottom of its target range, 3%. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Andre Cilliers, Currency Strategist at TreasuryONE, said the rand was holding steady at just above R18.00 on Monday. 'The rand initially fell heavily on Friday on the back of the 30% tariff announcement, hitting R18.35 at one point, but recovered sharply later as the dollar weakened on the back of the payrolls number,' Cilliers said. 'The rand closed at R18.05 and is currently consolidating around R18.03 as the Department of Trade and Industry makes a last-ditch effort to negotiate a better trade deal. President [Cyril] Ramaphosa is also scheduled to have a telephone call with Trump this week to discuss the tariffs.' Meanwhile, Ramaphosa said the decision by the US to impose a 30% tariff on South African imports highlighted the urgency with which South Africa has to adapt to increasingly turbulent headwinds in international trade. Ramaphosa said recent analyses underscored the risks associated with over-dependence on specific markets, highlighting the need for South Africa to diversify its trade partnerships. By reducing reliance on limited export avenues, Ramaphosa said the country can bolster the resilience of its economy against unforeseen disruptions. Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, also said the higher tariff was a threat to the country's export capacity, particularly in key sectors such as automotive, agro-processing, steel and chemicals.

IOL News
5 hours ago
- IOL News
Ramaphosa says South Africa will engage US over new tariffs as trade challenges loom
President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated that South Africa's trade relations with the US have historically been complementary in nature. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers Banele Ginidza President Cyril Ramaphosa has underscored the country's commitment to maintaining market access in the face of the United States' recent decision to impose a 30% tariff on South African imports. This significant shift in trade policy highlights the urgency for South Africa to navigate increasingly turbulent international trade waters and adapt its export strategies. In his latest newsletter on Monday, Ramaphosa articulated a dual approach: not only will the government engage with the US to ensure mutually beneficial trade relations, but it will also accelerate the diversification of its export markets by boosting intra-African trade. Recognising the US as South Africa's third-largest trading partner, Ramaphosa acknowledged the measure's potential to disrupt industries heavily dependent on exports to the US, thereby affecting thousands of jobs and the country's fiscal stability. "Our foremost priority is protecting our export industries. As government, we have been engaging the United States to enhance mutually beneficial trade and investment relations. All channels of communication remain open to engage with the US," Ramaphosa said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Last month, US President Donald Trump said the sweeping tariffs will apply to 'any and all South African products sent into the United States,' and were being imposed outside of any sectoral trade deals. In a letter dated July 7, Trump said the move was 'necessary to correct the many years of South Africa's Tariff, and Non Tariff, Policies and Trade Barriers,' blaming Pretoria for what he called 'unsustainable Trade Deficits against the United States.' However, Ramaphosa reiterated that South Africa's trade relations with the US have historically been complementary in nature. He said South African exports did not compete with US producers and did not pose a threat to US industry. "Largely, our exports are inputs into US industries and therefore support the United States' industrial base. South Africa is also the biggest investor from the African continent into the US, with 22 of our companies investing in a number of sectors including, mining, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and the food chain," he said. "South African imports ultimately benefit US consumers in terms of both choice and cost. By way of example, citrus production is counter-seasonal and does not pose a threat to US production. "Furthermore, production by US companies has been on the decline for a number of years as yhe US sector grapples with low yields, citrus greening disease, and other factors unrelated to competition from imports. Imports from South Africa, the world's second largest citrus exporter, have filled a gap and contributed to stable supply and prices for US consumers."