One of the biggest travel events on the world calendar has wrapped up, promising to come back bigger and better than ever next year.
Africa’s Travel Indaba 2026 was hailed a resounding success after three days of meetings, discussions and presentations at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre (Durban ICC), attended by Traveltalk.
Just short of 10,000 people walked through the doors over the course of the event, with organisers predicting a massive R240 million boost to the local economy.
“It has been an incredible show for me and the feedback that I’ve got from people on the floor is that everybody’s excited,” said Corne Koch, Chief Convention Bureau Officer, South African Tourism.
“The city is looking beautiful. The venue is looking beautiful. The province is fantastic. So we’ve very inspired to make next year’s event even bigger and better.”
Some 22 African countries were represented, with 1,200 exhibitors,1,000 buyers and more than 400 media from 44 countries, one of the largest gatherings in the event’s 30 year history.
From left to right: Winile Mntungwa, Deputy Director, Durban Tourism; Sibusiso Gumbi, Acting CEO, KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority; Corne Koch, Chief Convention Bureau Officer, South African Tourism; Lindiwe Rakharebe, Chief Executive Officer, Durban ICC
“I think for Durban ICC as the home of the Africa’s Travel Indaba, we were really excited that we could hold this event again under the inspiring theme of Unlimited Africa,” said Lindiwe Rakharebe, Chief Executive Officer, Durban ICC.
“And we really do see the infinite opportunities that exist for all of us as Africans, so that we can trade together, so that we can be able to grow this economy.
“This speaks directly to collectively doing things together, unlocking the potential of tourism, making sure that we have job creation, grow the economy, inclusivity and sustainable development across the continent.
“It’s important that we can be able to love each other because remember, you don’t do business with people that you don’t love.”
The event has provided a massive windfall for the city, with hotel occupancy running at 98 per cent.
“Durban has demonstrated that we have been ready for Indaba and we will continue to be ready for Indaba,” said Winile Mntungwa, Deputy Director, Durban Tourism.
“But more than anything, what has been exciting to observe is the quality of the participants, which we anticipate will translate in the quality of deals done at Indaba.
“So although Indaba is ending today, it’s not the end, but it’s now the beginning of much more business.
“We will now start preparing for the next Indaba from a product development point of view, because I believe 12 months from now you’ll be looking forward to new product offerings and will experience Durban differently.”
President Cyril Ramaphosa issued a rallying call during his speech at the opening ceremony earlier in the week for Africa to become the world’s greatest tourism hub, a call Indaba organisers are ready to embrace.
“For me, the call of the President says that collectively we can take Africa to the world to demonstrate that Africa is indeed a Mecca,” added Ms Mntungwa.
“We’ve got authentic stories. We’ve got gems that are not available globally and which international visitors come for here.
“So we just need to amplify our story and also the intra-Africa tourism trade in terms of us visiting each other’s locations, so that we understand what others have to offer.”
