Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025 officially opened this morning in Durban with a powerful message from South Africa’s Deputy President, Paulus Mashatile, who called on African nations to “choose Africa” in a united push to boost tourism, economic growth, and continental pride.
The event, hosted at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, has drawn over 1,300 exhibitors, 1,200 vetted international buyers, and delegates from 27 African countries, including new participants from Chad, St Helena, and Burkina Faso.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy President Mashatile praised Kwazulu Natal’s Durban as a fitting host city for the continent’s premier travel trade show, highlighting its “rich cultural history and breathtaking coastline.”
“Africa’s Unlimited Potential is not just a vision, it’s a Pan-African reality waiting to be realised,” Mashatile said. “We must choose to explore each other’s countries, invest in each other’s businesses, and promote each other’s markets.”
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille welcomed delegates and emphasised the sector’s growing impact, noting that South Africa received 8.9 million tourists in 2024, contributing R91.6 billion in direct spending and supporting 1.6 million jobs. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, tourist arrivals grew by 5.7%.
“Tourism reaches parts of our country where there are very few other opportunities,” De Lille said. “It remains a powerful economic driver across the continent.”
Both leaders emphasised the urgent need for inclusive growth, regional collaboration, and infrastructure improvements.
Mashatile underscored the importance of removing travel barriers, expanding intra-African tourism, and using platforms like the African Continental Free Trade Area to unlock new opportunities.
“Tourism is not just about travel, it is about connection, empowerment, and shared belief,” Mashatile said. “Our unity is cemented by social cohesion.”
The Tourism Minister announced the Department of Tourism’s upcoming five-year Tourism Growth Partnership Plan, which aims to grow tourism employment to 2.5 million, increase GDP contribution to 10%, and boost international air arrivals by one million annually.
The G20’s 2nd Tourism Working Group Meeting is also taking place on the sidelines of the Indaba, positioning Africa in the global tourism spotlight. Mashatile confirmed that over 200 G20-related meetings will take place across South Africa in 2025, culminating in the historic G20 Summit in November.
“As the only African member of the G20, South Africa has a proud opportunity to champion sustainable tourism and advocate for the global South,” he added.
Closing her remarks, Minister De Lille introduced a new international campaign by South African Tourism titled “South Africa Awaits – Come Find Your Joy.”
“Joy is Africa’s gift to the world,” she said. “Let’s use this platform to shape a stronger, more united tourism future.”
Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025 will run through the week, serving as a crucial platform for business deals, networking, and forging new paths for a thriving, resilient tourism sector across the continent.
