President Ramaphosa to handle Africa’s Travel Indaba

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Tuesday, 12 May 2026, formally open and deal with Africa’s Travel Indaba on the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal.

Held beneath the theme, “Unlimited Africa: Growing Africa’s Tourism Economy”, the Indaba is a platform for leaders of the African tourism trade, buyers, media, worldwide tour operators, bookers and authorities leaders, whose mandate is to develop and develop tourism on the continent.

The Indaba supplies a possibility for patrons from around the globe to buy quite a lot of tourism merchandise out there in South Africa and throughout the continent.

Africa’s largest tourism commerce gathering additionally permits trade leaders to deliberate on new insurance policies, rising traits, and the alternatives and threats dealing with the tourism sector from each African and world views. Tourism is a vital driver of funding and job creation for the eThekwini Municipality, the remainder of the province, and South Africa. The Indaba will run from 12 to 14 May 2026.

Tourism stays a key financial driver for South Africa, contributing considerably to job creation, funding attraction and inclusive financial progress. According to Statistics South Africa’s Tourism Satellite Account, the sector accounted for 953 981 direct jobs by 2024 and contributed 4,9% to the nation’s financial system, surpassing the pre-pandemic contribution of three,7% in 2019. Tourism at the moment sustains roughly 1.8 million direct and oblique jobs throughout the nation.

Africa’s Travel Indaba 2025 delivered a powerful financial contribution, producing R246.8 million in direct expenditure and contributing R610.6 million to South Africa’s GDP, whereas supporting 1 104 jobs. The occasion additionally recorded lodge occupancy of 97%, highlighting the vital position main tourism occasions play in stimulating financial exercise, supporting native companies, and selling South Africa’s world competitiveness as a vacation spot.

President Ramaphosa will deal with the Indaba as follows:
Date: Tuesday, 12 May 2026
Time: 10h00
Venue: Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, Durban

Media enquiries: Vincent Magwenya, Spokesperson to the President, media@presidency.gov.za

Issued by: The Presidency
Pretoria