Africa's Travel Indaba 2025, themed Unlimited Africa, hosted more than 9,990 attendees
Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025, the largest travel show in Africa, is projected to have significant economic benefits from event infrastructure and logistics to accommodation, restaurants and local transport services.
In a statement, South African Tourism Department says that though the current figures are still to be audited, they indicate that Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025, themed Unlimited Africa, hosted more than 9,990 attendees, marking an impressive 7.7 pc increase compared to 9,280 delegates that attended in 2024 with over 24,500 quality meetings held. The event also attracted 1,348 exhibitors and 1,037 buyers, with both exhibitor and international buyer numbers being the highest recorded in the past four years.
The organisers say that a total of 27 African countries participated, including new entrants from Chad, St Helena and Burkina Faso.
The statement adds that the direct economic impact of Africa’s Travel Indaba on Durban’s GDP is estimated at ZAR 574 million (USD 31.7 million), with direct spending totalling more than ZAR 232 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 ZAR 140 million.
The statement adds that Thembisile Sehloho, Chief Marketing Officer, South African Tourism, together with Sibusiso Gumbi, Acting Chief Executive Officer, KwaZulu-Natal Tourism & Film Authority, Winile Mntungwa, Deputy Head, Durban Tourism and Sandile Makhanya, Acting Marketing and Communications Executive, Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre (Durban ICC), addressed the media at the wrap-up of Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025 on May 15.
“We are exceptionally proud to have once again delivered the premier showcase of the African continent’s diverse tourism products and experiences. 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,” said Thembisile Sehloho, Chief Marketing Officer, South African Tourism.
“The economic ripple effect was felt far beyond the city centre, benefitting township and rural tourism enterprises, both formal and 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,” added Mntungwa.
Meanwhile, Gumbi expressed his deep confidence in the enduring partnership between South African Tourism, KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and 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 said.
He added that his organisation signed key Memorandum Of Understandings (MOUs) with eSwatini Tourism and Maloti-Drakensberg Transfrontier conservation Area Joint Marketing Agreement.
Patricia de Lille
According to the statement, 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 the event, Patricia de Lille, Minister of Tourism, South Africa, 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 pc, growing tourism’s GDP contribution from 8.8 pc in 2024 to 10 pc, 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!.
“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,” said Makhanya at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile, in his opening address, highlighted that travel and tourism contributed 6.8 pc to Africa’s GDP in 2023, with projections indicating a rise to 10.4 pc by 2030, and for South Africa, tourism currently contributes 8.9 pc to GDP, supporting 1.68 million jobs, with an ambitious target to grow this to 2.2 million jobs by 2030, adds the statement.
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