Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025 continued into its second day at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, bringing together tourism leaders, exhibitors, and delegates under the theme “Unlimited Africa.”
Africa Travel Indaba 2025: Key highlights from Day 2
Deputy President Paul Mashatile officially opened the event, stating that the theme reflects a united and ambitious Africa, unbound by outdated narratives. He highlighted tourism’s role as a major economic driver, accounting for 6.8% of Africa’s GDP in 2023 with expectations to rise to 10.4% by 2030
Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille shared South Africa’s strategic growth plan aiming to boost tourism employment to 2.5 million jobs, increase domestic spending by 25%, and welcome an additional one million international visitors annually. She also launched the new global brand campaign “South Africa Awaits – Come Find Your Joy”
The exhibition halls buzzed with activity as over 1,300 exhibitors from 27 countries, including new participants like Chad and Burkina Faso, connected with more than 1,200 vetted international buyers
Minister De Lille also announced a new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system that will move visa applications online and make travel across Africa easier
Tourism ministers from Zambia, South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique, and Angola stressed the need to dismantle travel and trade barriers. They called for collaborative reforms such as visa-free travel and better air connectivity across Africa
Day 2’s agenda included business networking sessions, workshops on rural tourism, eco-travel discussions, and media briefings on township tourism and gastronomy.
A standout moment was the symbolic ringing of the bell to mark the official start of business proceedings
KwaZulu-Natal’s MEC Reverend Musa Zondi detailed the province’s ambitious projects to attract international tourists, including new direct flight routes and a beach-and-safari tourism concept combining Club Med and Mpilo Safari Lodge.
The third day of the 2025 Africa Travel Indaba resumes on Thursday.
