‘Playing Globally, Winning Locally’ Central Theme for INDABA 2011

27 April 2011
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*SAT North America Hosts 30 Buyers to INDABA*

New York, NY - Celebrating a record year of tourism growth and unpacking the new goals set for the tourism industry will be the focus of INDABA 2011, which is again being hosted by South African Tourism at Durban’s Albert Luthuli Convention Centre from May 7-10, 2011.

Africa’s biggest travel and tourism trade show spans 27,000 square metres - with more than 13,000 visitors, 1,300 exhibitors, over 170 international hosted buyers and hundreds of local and international media expected this year at INDABA.  As Africa’s foremost travel trade show, INDABA represents an unparalleled business and networking opportunity for Southern Africa’s foremost product offerings and tourism industry stakeholders.

With the theme of “Playing Globally, Winning Locally” INDABA 2011 will pay tribute to the role played by the South African tourism industry in achieving 15.1% growth and an all-time high of over 8 million visitors in 2010. South African Tourism and its stakeholders will use INDABA to highlight issues such as the phenomenal growth and opportunities in emerging markets in Asia and the Americas, while keeping the focus on the country’s core tourism markets.

Through events such as the eagerly-anticipated INDABA Opening Ceremony on May 7 and the Global Media Face Off (to be moderated again this year by CNN’s Richard Quest) and Welcome Awards on May 8, INDABA 2011 will also start to address the 2020 goals set out by the National Department of Tourism in the National Tourism Sector Strategy (NTSS).

“When the tourism industry met at INDABA last year it was amidst great excitement, anticipation and intense global scrutiny shortly before our country’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The event’s phenomenal success enhanced worldwide positivity and awareness of our destination, and contributed to a record-breaking year for the South African tourism industry,” said Ms. Thandiwe January-McLean, Chief Executive Officer of South African Tourism.

“INDABA remains the highlight of the South African Tourism calendar and we will be debuting some of our exciting new campaigns and marketing work in our core and emerging tourism markets, as well as our new global creative direction,” added Ms. January-McLean.

“We are delighted to be hosting 30 US buyers to INDABA this year,” said Sthu Zungu, President of South African Tourism-North America.  “They are all first timers to this major trade show, and we are confident that they will be extremely impressed with the immense diversity, superior quality and great value offered in our South African product.”

In addition to attending INDABA, the hosted buyers will participate in a variety of pre-and post-tours to different provinces and iconic attractions before returning home.

New innovations at INDABA 2011 this year will include a multi-touch table surface allowing multiple users to view and engage with South African destination information, video content and social media platforms, a dedicated INDABA TV channel, as well as exciting new networking platforms, seminars and briefings.

Indaba 2011 takes place from May 7-10 at the Albert Luthuli Convention Centre (Durban ICC).  For more information, including media and visitor registration, please visit www.indaba-southafrica.co.za

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