A successful Africa's Travel Indaba 2025 reinforces the tourism sector’s economic impact

116 May 2025, Durban, South Africa – The projected economic benefits spurred by Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025, from event infrastructure and logistics to accommodation, restaurants, and local transport services, has been significant. The direct economic impact of Africa’s Travel Indaba on Durban’s GDP is estimated at R574-million, with direct spending totalling more than R232-million, highlighting the substantial economic benefits. Additionally, the event created over 2,000 jobs, particularly for the youth and local communities, with an anticipated household income contribution exceeding R140 million.

Current figures (still to be audited) indicate that Africa's Travel Indaba 2025, themed ‘Unlimited Africa’, hosted more than 9,990 attendees, marking an impressive 7.7% increase compared to 9,280 delegates that attended in 2024 with over 24 500 quality meetings held. The event attracted 1,348 exhibitors and 1037 buyers, with both exhibitor and international buyer numbers being the highest recorded in the past four years. A total of 27 African countries participated, including new entrants from Chad, St Helena, and Burkina Faso.

Africa's Travel Indaba 2025 was officially opened by His Excellency Paul Mashatile, South Africa's Deputy President, and Honourable Patricia de Lille, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism.

Thembisile Sehloho, Chief Marketing Officer of South African Tourism, together with Sibusiso Gumbi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Film Authority; Winile Mntungwa, Deputy Head of Durban Tourism and Sandile Makhanya, Acting Marketing & Communications Executive of Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (Durban ICC), addressed the media at the wrap-up of Africa's Travel Indaba 2025 on 15 May.

“We are exceptionally proud to have once again delivered the premier showcase of the African continent’s diverse tourism products and experiences,” said Sehlolo. “This year, we cemented Africa’s Travel Indaba’s position as a proudly Pan African event with a notable increase in the number of African countries participating. This success is a direct result of powerful collaboration with all our partners. The significant enthusiasm and business conducted reflect the robust growth and immense potential of the African tourism sector under the banner of 'Unlimited Africa, ’added Sehloho.”

Mntungwa said: “The economic ripple effect was felt far beyond the city centre, benefitting township and rural tourism enterprises- both formal & informal, including hospitality businesses in areas that hosted or serviced delegates through pre- and post-tours and local services. This

highlights how large events can stimulate broader economic activity, empowering local communities and promoting sustainable development across diverse regions.”

Gumbi expressed his deep confidence in the enduring partnership between South African Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Film Authority, the City of Durban, and the Durban ICC. “I am pleased to say that KwaZulu-Natal has hosted another very successful Africa’s Travel Indaba with a record number of delegates, international buyers and airlines attending this year. As Tourism KwaZulu-Natal and Film Authority, we supported 26 emerging tourism businesses who exhibited at our stand and had the opportunity to network with buyers from across Africa.”

He added that his organisation signed key Memorandum Of Understandings (MOUs) with eSwatini Tourism and Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier conservation Area Joint Marketing Agreement. This is part of the organisation’s programmes to grow the Africa market for Kwa Zulu-Natal. They also had key engagements with several strategic partners such as Club Med and some airlines that will help grow their footprint globally.

Makhanya at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre said: “Africa’s Travel Indaba is undeniably our premier event. As the ICC, we are deeply committed to ensuring that this trade event showcases Africa to the world and contributes significantly and sustainably to our local economy. This year, we continued our initiatives to involve students from Durban University of Technology and local culinary talents, providing them with invaluable experience and opportunities within the event.”

Nationally, the Department of Tourism, together with various provincial tourism authorities demonstrated their commitment to fostering an inclusive sector by supporting about 400 Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to participate at Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025 granting them crucial access to the diverse array of international and local buyers attending the trade show. South African Tourism also hosted a sustainability village, providing free exhibition space to small businesses promoting arts and crafts.

During Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025, Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, reiterated the ambitious targets of the Department’s five-year Tourism Growth Partnership Plan. These include growing total tourism employment from approximately 1.84 million jobs in 2024 to 2.5 million jobs, increasing domestic spend by 25%, growing tourism’s GDP contribution from 8.8% in 2024 to 10%, and welcoming an extra million international air arrivals annually. The Minister also spotlighted South African Tourism’s new global brand campaign, “South Africa awaits – Come Find Your Joy!”.

Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his opening address, championed the ‘Unlimited Africa’ theme as a bold declaration of Africa's promise. He highlighted that travel and tourism contributed 6.8% to Africa’s GDP in 2023, with projections indicating a rise to 10.4% by 2030, and for South Africa, tourism currently contributes 8.9% to GDP, supporting 1.68 million jobs, with an ambitious target to grow this to 2.2 million jobs by 2030.

At the wrap-up press conference held yesterday, all parties extended their sincere thanks to members of the media for their extensive and insightful coverage of the trade show, acknowledging the critical role the media plays in sharing the compelling story of an ‘Unlimited Africa’ with the world.

-ENDS –

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Issued by South African Tourism

For further information, contact:

Thandiwe Mathibela

Tel: +2711 895 3177 Email: mediaq@southafrica.net Email: thandiwe@southafrica.net

Website: www.indaba-southafrica.co.za