As the clock ticks, so is the countdown to Africa’s biggest leisure travel showpiece
The 21st edition of Africa Travel Indaba will be staged in the warm and beautiful city of Durban in the KwaZulu Natal Province of South Africa.
“It’s always been a business-packed sessions and if you don’t mark your calendar, you may well miss some important industry session. “An exhibitor told VoyagesAfriq on arrival in Durban.
This year’s event will present a full bouquet of tourism’s most pressing topics, conversation, and networking opportunities to participants drawn from around the globe.
Once again, VoyagesAfriq will be bringing you up to the minute update from the exhibition floor.
Preceding the official opening of Africa’s Travel Indaba and highlight of the day is the Business Opportunities and Networking (DayBoN) curated to help the tourism industry to be abreast with the happenings in the sector. This year’s edition has assembled some of the fine Brains to unpack and offer solutions to the challenges bedevilling the industry.
A well thought out topics to be covered during the interactive BONDay session includes the role of arts and culture in the development of sustainable tourism; removal of barriers to intra-Africa market access and connectivity, the new travellers needs and their implications for destination management and investment, enablement of SMMEs through technology and conducive regulation, marketing and technology platforms that enable business growth. From a tourism perspective, we all can relate to the choice of topics.
South Africa’s Deputy Minister of Tourism Amos Fish Mahlalela will give the opening remarks for the BonDay session. He is expected to share the policies and projects undertaken by the government to support the recovery of the tourism sector, particularly SMMEs.
Below is the schedule
Inside Track—
Tomorrow’s Travellers -Inside on tourism investment and destination management.
Speakers
• Rohit Talwar – CEO, Fast Future, UK
• Amy Hills – Senior Associate, Capital Markets, JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality
Gr
• Olayinka Bandele – Senior Economist, United Nations European
Commission for Africa, Southern Africa.
•
Moderatator: Naledi Moleo – News Anchor, SABC
10:45-11:45
Hard Talk on Pan-African Thought-leadership in Tourism
Realizing progressive visa regimes and Connectivity as a tourism growth opportunity for Africa
Leaders in tourism and aviation will address the challenges affecting the growth of the sector at the same time offering insights into the progress made in the various fora and meetings.
Speakers
Elcia Grandcourt – Regional Director, Africa Department, UNWTO
Alan Renaud – Principal Secretary – Civil Aviation, Ports and Marine, Seychelles
Sandile Chipunza – Manager External Affairs & Sustainability, IATA
Nomasonto Ndlovu – COO, South African Tourism
Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa – CEO, Tourism Business Council of South Africa
Women Empowerment
The discussion around the creation of the right environment to reduce the gender gap in the tourism industry will once be in the spotlight. Seasoned experts and public & private leaders will tackle this important discussion.
Speakers
• Lindiwe Rakharebe – CEO, Durban International Convention Centre, SA
• Mimi Kalinda – Group CEO, Africa Communications Media Group, SA
• Hon. Philda Nani Kereng – Minister of Environment and Tourism, Botswana
• Joanne Mwangi – Yelbert – CEO, PMS,
Kenya
• Winile Mtungwa – Deputy Head, Durban
Tourism
Moderator – Lynette Ntuli, CEO, Innate Investment Solutions
Time: 12-12:45 , Venue
Enabling SMEs through technology and a favourable regulatory environment
The use of technology to scale up SMMEs will be the next discussion to challenge the tourism industry on how prepared it is to tap into the digital space to affect service delivery
Speakers
• Gwen Ngwenya – Senior Manager, Public Policy EMEA, Air BnB, South Africa
• Buntu Matole – Co-Founder, ABCD
Concepts, South Africa
• Bronwen Auret – Chief Quality Assurance
Officer, South African Tourism
• Juanita Clark – Co-Founder and Chief
Executive Officer, Digital Council Africa,
Moderator – Septi Bukula – Founder & Director, SEEZA, South Africa
Time:
Venue
In pursuit of youth and Women Economic Inclusion
Speakers
• Phindile Makwakwa – COO, Tourism KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
• Gabriela Gamez- Government Affairs Manager, WTTC, UK
• Amy Hills – Senior Associate, Capital Markets, JLL’s Hotels & Hospitality Group
• Glenton De Kock – CEO, Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI).
Moderator – Lynette Ntuli, CEO, Innate Investment
Diversifying Africa’s Tourism Products
Reimagining cultural tourism – the potential of Utahn tourism
Speakers
• Bheki Dube – Founder, Curiocity, South Africa
• Mulekeni Ngulube – Consultant, UNESCO
• Richardson Chigogo – CEO, Peaks of Africa, South Africa
• Ruddy Kwakye – Executive Director Afro Nation Ghana
Moderator – Lonwabo Mavuso – Executive Director, Andani Africa
Time: 12:45-13:30
Venue
Inspiring African Culinary Travels
• Chef Queen Gumede – Sakhumzi Restaurant, South Africa
• Chef Andile Somdaka – Eziko Restaurant, former personal chef to Nelson Mandela and Director: Ethics Africa Chefs, South Africa
• Chef Innocent Rutayisire – Executive Sous Chef, Rwanda
• Chef Benjamin Compaore – Executive Sous Chef, Burkina Fasso
Interviewer: Lynette Ntuli – CEO Innate Investment Solutions
Click here to download the detailed program
