R22.80 June 2011 The Technology issue www.theevent.co.za
pg7
pg12
pg18
THE BATTLE FOR INDABA EXHIBITIONS DURING South Africa’s hotly debated local elections, the country’s premier tourism showcase became an area of contention between two cities.
M
INISTER of Tourism Marthinus Van Schalkwyk recently announced the National Tourism Sector Strategy – which aims to increase the number of foreign tourist arrivals to 15 million, domestic trips to 50 million, and increase tourism’s contribution to the GDP from 189 billion in 2009 to 499 billion and to create 225000 new tourism jobs by 2020. During election time, tourism was the buzzword in every politician’s election campaign speech. This is not surprising considering that tourism shows an annual 15% growth and has been earmarked by President Jacob Zuma as the industry with the biggest potential for job creation. But like all hot topics, tourism has generated its own share of controversy. On the weekend of Indaba, South Africa’s biggest tourism exhibition, which took place from 7 -10 May 2011 in Durban, then DA Cape Town mayoral candidate Patricia de Lille boldly announced her plans to bring
Indaba
the trade show to Cape Town. “As mayor, I would bring the Tourism Indaba, Africa’s largest tourism event, to Cape Town. It has always been held in Durban, run by the ANC. It needs to come to Cape Town, South Africa’s premiere tourist destination. Currently, the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) does not have the capacity to host such an event. However, renovations which are to be completed in the next mayoral term will see the
CTICC becoming large enough to host the Indaba. We have established ourselves as the best destination through hard work, good government and strategic thinking. It is only right that the continent’s premier tourism extravaganza be hosted by the home of South African tourism: Cape Town.” Last month The Event announced the CTICC’s R4.5 billion expansion plans that will see the centre double in size and change the face of the city.
The mayor’s statement had some up in arms. Durban Mayor Obed Mlaba responded by saying that anyone with ambitions of snatching Indaba from Durban had better “watch out” “No one can deny that Durban is the best place for Indaba. It’s the warmest place to be, not only in terms of weather, but the true warmth of our people and our hospitality. We have invested in growing Indaba to what it is today together
with SA Tourism.” ICC Durban has hosted Indaba 21 times over 32 years and is considered by many to be the spiritual home of the show. South African Tourism, who own Indaba, usually grant the Indaba contract in threeyear increments, but last year Durban won a five year contract that expires in 2015. By that time CTICC will have sufficient capacity to host the show. After Patricia’s statement, the national press reported that the Thekweni Council was thinking about ICC Durban’s own expansion and KwaZulu Natal Tourism MEC Michael Mabuyakhulu boldly claimed that a decision had to be made to make Durban Indaba’s permanent home. CTICC CEO Joey Pather responded rather diplomaticaly that the CTICC is always interested in hosting local and international trade fairs that contribute to job creation and economic spin off. “We are confident that Cape Town and CTICC have the relevant infrastructure and expertise to be a strong contender for this event when the five year contract with Durban concludes,” he said. Looks like Durban is in for some tough competition. Sally Fink