Durban Tourism Indaba hailed as a success

The four-day Indaba, Africa's premier tourism trade show, ended at the International Convention Centre and the neighbouring Durban Exhibition Centre on Tuesday.

This year's Indaba tourism conference was "absolutely awesome and beyond all expectations".

And while these were the words of Alan Vels, the managing director of the Three Cities hotel group and chairman of the KwaZulu-Natal branch of the hospitality association Fedhasa, it was a view expressed by countless tourism exhibitors.

A record number of 10 000 people attended the show, with more than 2 000 "buyers" (tour operators and agents) snapping up holidays from South African exhibitors.

"Indaba was absolutely superb. Our 18 consultants never stopped working over the four days. We've seen about 18 new international suppliers who will be using us, on top of the existing supplier," said Vels.

"We've now got 40 hotels in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia, including three new hotels, and that gives buyers lots of options."

A new hotel going up at Zimbali Coastal Resort on the North Coast, which will be ready by mid-2006, has created "huge" interest.

"It's five-star and it's right on the beachfront. People like that."

Linda Pampallis, the managing director of Thompsons Tours, said that in terms of business "it was one of the best Indabas ever".

There were "huge opportunities", she said.

Small and medium businesses at the Tourism KwaZulu-Natal stand were also upbeat about the networking spin-offs.

The sand sculptors, the hairdresser doing braiding, and the photographer - delegates had the chance to get their pictures taken and become "instant" Zulus - were big attractions, luring delegates to see what was on offer in the Zulu Kingdom.

Reg Ferreira, marketing the Champagne Sports Resort in the Drakensberg, said he felt there were fewer international buyers than last year "but they were very good quality ones".

"We did good business and we are very happy," he said.

Source: www.iol.co.za