Namibia to make its presence felt at INDABA

INDABA, Africa’s leading travel show, returns to the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, South Africa from 16 to 18 May.
The event will sport a more stream­lined programme and improved floor layout, to make it easier for the world to come and sample the tourism treasures Africa has to offer.
Namibia, together with more than 17 other African countries, including Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagas­car, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Réunion, Seychelles, Senegal, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe, are set to take part in the continental showpiece.
INDABA focuses on African des­tinations and gives visitors a chance to become acquainted with exciting product developments throughout the continent.
Through the convenient online dia­ry and matchmaking system, delegates can use technology to set up pre-sched­uled meetings with buyers or exhibitors that may match their needs, saving time and enabling them to get the best out of the show.
For the first time, this digital plat­form has also been extended to media, meaning journalists can now schedule one-on-one meetings with exhibitors of interest, to secure the stories they want to tell about Africa’s tourism in­dustry. A new INDABA app will also function as a one-stop digital resource for updates, news and events.
This year’s heightened focus on matching like-minded tourism indus­try players is aimed at driving suc­cessful business deals, while helping to showcase the kaleidoscope of prod­uct options on offer. For instance, the Hidden Gems pavilion will introduce the world’s travel buyers and visitors to small tourism enterprises from each of South Africa’s nine provinces that may otherwise have remained undis­covered, in the hope of encouraging a broader range of authentic tourism ex­periences to be included in tours to the neighbouring country.
Delegates at the trade show will be exposed to the full breadth of Africa’s tourism offerings, including high-end products at the Tourism Grading Council’s new luxury pavilion. This feature will cater to global buyers, who are on the lookout for the premier five- star offerings that many destina­tions on the continent are famed for.
Apart from the pre-scheduled meetings, buyers will have the chance to meet with exhibitors during the morning speed mar­keting sessions on each of the three show days. Here, partici­pating exhibitors will be grouped according to themes such as lap of luxury, scenic outdoors and award winners, before making short presentations on their offerings. These sessions are an excellent way for buyers to ask questions and learn more about exhibitors – many of whom are small busi­nesses.
Media organisations will dis­cover an abundance of challeng­ing and thought-provoking con­tent in the series of Conversations at INDABA 2017. Leaders and influencers from the local and global industry will take part in riveting panel discussions around topical issues and their impact on African tourism.
Anyone with an interest in Af­rican travel is invited to register to attend this landmark African trav­el show at the Durban ICC, and be part of celebrating and promoting an industry that is growing, that is thriving and that is of worthy of the global acclaim it is receiving.
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