Delegate feedback brings INDABA shake up
INDABA has kicked off for its 2015 season, welcoming no less than 9000 influential tourism leaders, decision makers and global media to Durban.
Full of new and improved features, the trade show has been planned with delegate feedback from previous years to enhance the overall experience.
“The ICC looks forward to INDABA 2015, and to delivering an unforgettable experience to the host of international and domestic tourism buyers, journalists, visitors and exhibitors from around the world,” the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre’s CEO Lindiwe Rakharebe said.
One of the hot new features of the trade show is the Calabash, which provides a typically African social environment for informal meetings and networking.
INDABA also saw a return of the Business Buyers Lounge, a direct response to interest from exhibitors and South African Tourism’s determination to put exhibitors first by offering optimised business opportunities.
There are two categories of Business Buyers Lounge; exhibitors and non-exhibitors. Non-exhibitors have an option of conducting all their INDABA appointments from their bespoke Business Buyers Lounge hub.
The favourite speed marketing sessions are also in place to connect local trade and international hosted buyers in a fast paced environment, giving buyers easy access to the already established South African SMME’s.
The Speed Marketing sessions have been moved from the usual 12:30pm time slot to 8:30am to give buyers the opportunity to schedule additional meetings with exhibitors.
And instead of the regular annual Global Media Face Off, this year there will be four distinct media briefings that will examine tourism’s contribution to the South African economy.
The sessions will look at the importance of small tourism businesses, the growing importance of inter-continental collaboration for the growth of overall African tourism, and an INDABA bid party media briefing that will take a look at INDABA 2015’s successes and highlights.
The INDABA 2015 tourism trade show kicked off on Saturday May 9, and wraps up on Monday May 11 at Durban’s Inkosi Albert International Convention Centre.
Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au
indaba 2015 south africa south african tourismLatest News
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