KZN ready for annual Indaba

The eThekwini municipality can again advertise, process and award tenders for waste-water sludge.

The eThekwini municipality can again advertise, process and award tenders for waste-water sludge.

Published May 11, 2012

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Durban hotels are jam-packed as nearly 13 000 delegates and staff descend on the city for the Indaba travel trade show this weekend, while Newcastle in northern KZN is expecting up to 3 000 delegates, media representatives and dignitaries for the ANC’s provincial conference.

Tourism bosses said it was a coincidental “double whammy” spin-off for KwaZulu-Natal this weekend, in addition to the Super Rugby match between the Sharks and Australia’s Western Force on Saturday.

“It’s going to be a very busy weekend for two KZN hubs… It’s great for tourism,” said Lihle Dlamini, of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal.

“The annual Indaba being hosted in Durban is an important event for the city and province with thousands of travel and hospitality industry bosses, buyers, media and other tourism leaders attracted to the event.

“This year we are also hosting the Hospitality Investment Conference Africa, ahead of Indaba, which attracts hotel owners, developers and financiers,” she said.

Durban Tourism CEO Phillip Sithole said the city and the International Convention Centre were ready for Indaba.

“We are expecting over 13 000 delegates to attend this year’s trade show, 60 percent of which are international participants.

“There will be more than 2 000 exhibiting companies and organisations… and we have estimated the event will have an economic impact of more than R250 million for Durban.

“This year we are taking the main Indaba media event to the township of uMlazi on Sunday, where over 100 international journalists will get to experience township tourism at Max’s Lifestyle,” said Sithole.

“Durban Tourism is using Indaba to promote new tourism corridors in our city and township experiences. We will be signing an historic three-city agreement with Cape Town and Joburg to promote South Africa’s biggest city destinations.”

The official Indaba welcome party would take place at the Moses Mabhida Stadium’s People’s Park after the Sharks’ match, giving Indaba delegates a feel of the sporting vibe of Durban.

SA Tourism’s newly appointed CEO Thulani Nzima was looking forward to his first Indaba as head of the body.

“Indaba is a crucial platform for sales and the forging of strong partnerships with all industry stakeholders to grow the tourism sector,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Newcastle, organisers of the ANC’s provincial conference said they were also ready for the event, which gets under way today.

“Everything is going well… All hotels, B&Bs and lodges are fully booked with up to 3 000 people set to attend the event. Some delegates have to stay as far afield as Dundee and Vryheid,” said Sibonelo Nzimande, tourism manager in Newcastle. - The Mercury

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