South African tourism faces the media
6 May 2009 - Article by www.southafrica.info

True or false? South Africa's tourism industry has escaped the worst of the global recession. Do you agree? Safety should not be a concern for 2010 World Cup visitors. Fact or fiction? South Africa has no marketing campaign to generate excitement around the World Cup?

More than 600 local and international journalists will gather at the Indaba Global Media Face Off at the Durban International Convention Centre, Durban on Sunday to get straight answers to these and other questions on the state of tourism in South Africa and the challenges it faces.

Moderated by world-renowned CNN host Richard Quest, the Global Media Face Off panelists will include 2010 Local Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan, economist Iraj Abedien, and World Cup consultant Horst Schimdt, one of the driving forces behind the success of the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Indaba 2009
Indaba 2009, one of the biggest tourism marketing events on the African calendar, takes place at the Albert Luthuli Convention Centre in Durban from Saturday to Tuesday.

The event showcases a huge variety of southern Africa's best tourism products, attracting exhibitors and journalists from across the world.

Indaba 2008 drew more than 13 200 delegates, confirming its status as Africa's top travel show and one of the top three in the world. There were 621 journalists in attendance, including 175 from abroad.

The show received a prestigious World Travel Award as Africa's best travel show, while South African Tourism picked up a World Travel Award as for best destination marketing organisation on the continent.

Tourism and the global recession
Despite the global economic slowdown, 2008 remained a buoyant year for the South African tourism industry, with the latest figures for foreign arrivals, for the first 10 months of 2008, showing a 5.4% increase in arrivals compared to the same period in 2007.

"Our industry is by no means immune to the effects of the international economic crisis, but we are still confident that we will reach our target of 10 million visitors in 2010," Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk said in January, when the statistics were released.

"Our country continues to be a value-for-money destination and with international events like the Confederations Cup and World Cup lined up, there will be opportunities in abundance and tourism will retain the important role it plays in our economic growth," Van Schalkwyk said.

"In order to ensure that we maximise the potential of our country and the vibrancy offered by its people, it is vital that all role-players in the industry share their skills, knowledge and talent."

For more information, visit www.indaba-southafrica.co.za

SAinfo reporter 6 May 2009 - www.southafrica.info