Tourism KwaZulu-Natal (TKZN) started day one of World Travel Market Africa, which commenced today at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, on a high note with their stand buzzing with meetings.
WTM Africa 2023 is an exclusive B2B event that brings together 6000 travel industry professionals from across the world to focus on the opportunities and issues that will drive commercial success for the African travel industry.
“We see WTM Africa as a precursor to the Africa Travel Indaba (ATI) which takes place at the Durban ICC in May, and we are using this platform to secure more meetings with top international buyers at Africa Travel Indaba taking place at the Durban ICC in May.
“Therefore, platforms like these are critical for us as a destination marketing agency, as we continue our drive to ensure the province is included on international travel itineraries,” said Pinky Radebe Senior PR and Communications Manager at Tourism KZN.
WTM Africa is attended by leading travel trade professionals from several international markets, that play a vital role in selling and packaging destinations across the globe.
Tourism KZN is exhibiting alongside partners Durban Direct, which is already meeting with potential airline partners to lobby for more direct flights to KwaZulu-Natal, and Isimangaliso Wetland Park.
“We have strategically partnered with sister entities like Isimangaliso Wetland Park which offers a world-renowned tourism experience as well as Dube Trade Port and Trade and Investment KZN who champion issues of Air Access through the Durban Direct initiative.
Air access and connectivity to KZN, which are at the centre of the Province’s Recovery Strategy, are high on the TKZN agenda at WTMA, because the easier it is to access a region the more people are likely to visit it.
Also, at the TKZN pavilion are some outstanding KZN tourism products such as Dragon View Lodge in the Drakensberg, Fordoun Hotel and Spa in the KZN Midlands and Shayamanzi House Boats Jozini Northern KZN to showcase what destination KZN has to offer to local and international travel buyers who attend the show every year.
Tourism KZN has also taken two of its tourism Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) King Shaka Golf Tours and Thokazi Lodge to WTM Africa.
“It is important for us to ensure that we provide market access opportunities for smaller and emerging tourism entrepreneurs, and events like WTM Africa serve as a platform where our SMMEs can engage with international buyers to secure deals that help them grow their businesses,” said Radebe.
Tourism KZN will be exhibiting at WTM Africa from 3 to 5 April in Hall 1 stand R15.
Pictured here: Mpho Mbuli - GM Marketing Manager; Thandi Shabalala - Branding Manager; Jabulani Ngubane - Executive Manager Tourism and Business Deveopment; Samukelisiwe Thusini - intern.
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