With final day figures yet to be submitted, there was a 4.1% increase in total delegate numbers. There were 31% more journalists at this year's Indaba... 621 compared to 471 last year. Of the journalists that attended Indaba this year, 175 were foreign journalists.
There was overall consensus that this year's Indaba was characterised by a renewed sense of excitement and focus around the industry, with confirmation that South Africa is well on target to meet (and even succeed) its ambition to attract 10 million visitors by 2010.
This year's Indaba, perhaps more than any other, has been especially crucial for the industry and destination. This is because it's the Indaba at which many of the buying decisions for the 2010 FIFA World Cup were made.
Exhibitors report brisk trade and keen interest in the destination. They say that this is chiefly due to the reality of the 2010 FIFA World Cup being two short years away... and also because South Africa has ‘arrived' as an extremely sought-after leisure destination.
“It's been an incredibly good Indaba for us,” said one exhibitor. “Not only because it's been very business-focused, but also because of the opportunities we've been given to network with others in the industry, combine product offerings and create new itineraries for a market that grows bigger each year.”
The Opening Ceremony was a highlight of the show with its characteristic celebratory atmosphere and focus on matters that the industry takes seriously and is concerned about.
Deputy minister of environmental affairs and tourism Rejoice Mabudafhasi congratulated the industry at the Opening Ceremony on attaining 1415% growth since democracy, and she recalled some of the numerous industry milestones since democracy. They included the destination winning the right to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup; the establishment of the FIFA tour operators' authorisation programme for 2010; and tourism eclipsing gold as a foreign exchange earner for South Africa.
Another major feature at this year's Indaba was the Global Media Face Off, moderated by Fionnuala Sweeny, CNN anchor and news presenter who quizzed Face Off panellists about SA's readiness for 2010 and, with them, examined some of the readiness and capability myths that surround the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Deputy finance minister Jabu Moleketi, who attended the Global Media Face Off, put fears in regard to power and electricity supply at ease while Local Organising Committee CEO Danny Jordaan assured the world's media that each of the 2010 stadiums would be complete in good time for the championship. Moeketsi Mosola (CEO, South African Tourism) spoke of the significant legacy that 2010 will bring, and is already bringing, the industry.
It is reported that delegates agreed that although there were some challenges facing the industry including crime, the global economic downturn, skills, service levels, transformation and airlift, there was still ample reason to be optimistic about the future of the industry, the country and continent.
Speaking at Indaba, Mosola said that it was vital for all industry players, across both private and public sectors, to invest collectively in addressing industry challenges to create both an industry and a country that engenders pride and that is conducive to building on present successes for a robust, thriving, equitable, sustainable and profitable travel and tourism industry towards 2010 and beyond.
