Francis Doku, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
President Cyril Ramaphosa will today officially open Africa’s Travel Indaba at the Durban International Convention Centre, setting the tone for three days of high-level tourism trade engagement focused on business travel, MICE growth and Africa’s expanding tourism economy.
The opening follows Business Opportunity Networking Day (BONDay) on Monday, which traditionally lays the intellectual and strategic foundation for the trade show. BONDay 2026 brought together policymakers, tourism authorities, convention bureaux, private sector leaders and creatives to interrogate Africa’s competitiveness, destination marketing, sports tourism, culture and digital transformation.
Speaking ahead of the official opening, President Ramaphosa moved to reassure African travellers, tourism investors and business events stakeholders after condemning recent acts of violence directed at foreign nationals in parts of South Africa.
“These are the acts of opportunists who are exploiting the legitimate grievances, particularly those of the poor, under the false guise of ‘community activism’,” the President said in his From the Desk of the President address on Monday. “Such lawlessness will not be tolerated, regardless of who the perpetrators or victims are.”
The President stressed that the incidents do not reflect government policy or the values of South Africa, reaffirming the country’s commitment to African solidarity, mobility and openness – a critical message as Indaba convenes delegates from across the continent and global source markets.
Tourism, business travel and MICE under the spotlight
Africa’s Travel Indaba remains the continent’s most influential tourism marketplace, connecting African destinations with international buyers across leisure, business travel and meetings segments. While leisure tourism remains central, the growing prominence of MICE and business events has become a defining feature of the show.
President Ramaphosa has underscored tourism’s strategic importance to South Africa’s economy, noting that visitors from African countries accounted for just over 8 million of the country’s 10.5 million tourist arrivals last year – highlighting the centrality of intra-African travel to sustained growth.
The focus on business travel and MICE comes at a time when South Africa is positioning itself as a reliable host for global events, following the successful hosting of more than 135 G20-related meetings and preparations for future mega-events, including international sporting and economic forums.
BONDay sets the strategic agenda
BONDay 2026 opened Africa’s Travel Indaba under the theme Unlimited Africa – Growing Africa’s Tourism Economy, positioning tourism as a catalyst for jobs, investment and regional integration.
Deputy Minister of Tourism Makhotso Sotyu described BONDay as more than a ceremonial start. “BONDay is more than the opening of a programme; it is a celebration of Africa’s collective potential and a reminder that our continent’s future is strongest when we grow together,” she said.
“Africa’s tourism story is therefore not simply one of growth, but of resilience, reinvention and rising ambition.”
Discussions on BONDay ranged from Africa’s global tourism narrative and destination competitiveness to sports tourism, culture-led travel and the role of digital platforms such as TikTok in converting inspiration into bookings.
De Lille: Private sector, scale and economic impact
At the official launch of the 2026 edition last week, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille highlighted Africa’s Travel Indaba as a proven economic engine and announced a shift towards deeper private sector participation to secure its long-term sustainability.
“This event has been solely funded by the state for over 30 years,” De Lille said. “We are now calling on the private sector and the creative sector to submit proposals on how we can revamp and grow it further. We are bringing in partners and sponsors to ensure its longevity for the next 30 years.”
She revealed that the 2025 edition of Africa’s Travel Indaba generated R246.8 million in direct economic activity, with a broader impact estimated at over R610 million to South Africa’s GDP, while delivering R45.5 million in tax revenue and supporting more than 1,100 jobs.
“Next year, you are going to see everything triple,” the Minister said, pointing to increased exhibitor participation, buyer attendance and expanded programming.
For 2026, organisers have confirmed more than 1,100 exhibitors, close to 1,000 hosted buyers, strong airline participation and extensive international media presence – reinforcing Indaba’s position as Africa’s most formidable tourism trade platform.
Spreading tourism benefits nationwide
Minister De Lille also emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring that tourism growth extends beyond traditional hubs such as Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal and the Western Cape.
“We want to split the benefits of tourism across South Africa,” she said, confirming that hosted buyers will be taken on post-Indaba familiarisation trips to provinces including the Free State, Northern Cape and North West.
She pointed to ongoing investment in tourism infrastructure projects valued at more than R1 billion, arguing that business events and MICE tourism play a critical role in driving investor confidence.
“When people invest in our country, it shows confidence,” De Lille said, citing recent multibillion-rand investments in KwaZulu-Natal and Cape Town as evidence of tourism’s wider economic multiplier effect.
Confidence, capability and continental connectivity
As Africa’s Travel Indaba officially opens today, the convergence of strong political messaging, robust trade participation and a clear MICE and business travel focus sends a signal to the continent and global markets.
President Ramaphosa’s condemnation of xenophobia and reaffirmation of African solidarity, combined with government’s emphasis on large-scale events, infrastructure investment and private sector partnership, positions South Africa as both capable and open for business.
“There is no place in South Africa for xenophobia, intolerance or violence,” the President said. “Everyone in South Africa is bound by the same laws, and we are committed to ensuring they are respected.”
Over the next three days, Africa’s Travel Indaba 2026 will host intensive trade engagements, ministerial dialogues and sector-specific discussions, reinforcing tourism’s role as a driver of jobs, investment, business travel and Africa’s collective economic future.
