With less than 30 days to INDABA 2015, South African Tourism can now confirm that the exhibitor applications are up 30 percent compared to 2014, and 90 percent of the INDABA tradeshow floor space has been reserved. Approved non-hosted buyer applications are on a par with 2014; and approved hosted buyer numbers are double that of 2014.
There are about 30 percent more confirmed exhibitors on board for INDABA 2015 than there were for INDABA 2014. More than 80 percent of tradeshow floor space in the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban has already been allocated to exhibitors with both halls of the Durban Exhibition Centre close to 100 percent full.
Exhibitors include the widest variety and depth of African travel products from both the private and public sectors of the industry. These are the heroes of INDABA: a continent of tourism exhibitors who bring Africa’s beauty, accessibility and superb tourism service and infrastructure to the world.
The INDABA 2015 exhibitor contingent boasts a diversity of exhibitors such as: the Blue Train; the Vineyard Hotel; Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa; Tsogo Sun; the Protea Hotel Group; MalaMala Game Reserve; andBeyond Group; Bill Harrop’s Original Balloon Safaris; the Mantis Collection; the Shamwari Group; Fugitives’ Drift; Groot Constantia; Grootbos; Hilton Worldwide; Legacy Lodges and Resorts; the Lord Charles Hotel; Red Carnation Hotels; Sabi Game Reserve; and the Thornybush Collection are listed among hundreds of confirmed exhibitors.
Working together to market the continent is critical to the development of tourism as an industry on the continent. This is the view of Nicholas Barenblatt, Group Marketing Manager of Protea Hotels and African Pride Hotels. “INDABA is also a great platform to maintain long standing relationships with overseas agents and showcase the industry leadership hospitality that Protea Hotels is known for whilst they are in our country,” says Barenblatt.
Tour operators, tourism boards and destination marketing organisations from across Africa are confirmed for INDABA 2015, affirming their confidence in the INDABA offer. The following destinations will be well represented on the tradeshow floor: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, the Comoros, Congo Brazzaville, the DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria and Niger State, Reunion, Rwanda, Senegal, the Seychelles, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In total, the applications of 1 166 non-hosted buyers had been approved by the beginning of April, with applications continuing to stream in. Most exciting, hosted buyer applications for INDABA 2015 had grown a phenomenal 75.48 percent (to 737 buyers), with 100 percent growth in the number of approved hosted buyer applications. There is an almost perfect split of 50/50 percent local and international buyers attending INDABA 2015.
INDABA takes place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, from May 9 to 11 2015.
For more information on INDABA 2015, go to www.southafrica.net and follow #INDABA2015 on Twitter.