There were smiles all round as Deputy President Paul Mashatile officially opened the 2025 Africa’s Travel
Indaba. He was accompanied by Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille and KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli
among other dignitaries.

THE DEPUTY President Paul Mashatile officially opened the 2025 Africa’s Travel Indaba which took place at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre from 12 to 15 May. Africa’s largest trade show was held under the theme ‘Unlimited Africa’ and saw over 1 300 exhibitors, delegates from 27 African countries, and over 1 200 vetted international buyers from 55 source markets in attendance. The Africa’s Travel Indaba has grown to include new participants from Chad, St Helena, and Burkina Faso, whose presence affirms the trade shows growing role as a continental platform. During his address, Deputy President Mashatile said the trade show is boosting intra-Africa travel while also increasing the share of international tourism. Intra-African tourism is crucial for boosting local economies, fostering regional integration, and promoting cultural understanding within the continent. 

He said it creates jobs, strengthens economies, and contributes to infrastructure development while conserving natural environments and cultural assets. “The South African Government has already begun the journey of promoting tourism by enabling seamless African travel. We aim to remove barriers, unlock access, and make it easier for Africans and the world to experience Africa. We remain committed to ensuring that travel is safe, secure, and seamless for all. We want each traveller to find joy in their journey through our land,” he said.

This year’s Indaba took place on the sidelines of the G20 2nd Tourism Working Group meeting, placing African tourism at the centre of global dialogue. Welcoming delegates to the City, eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba said this year’s projections of the Indaba exceeded last year’s achievements by hosting over 9 600 delegates, generating R232 million in direct spend, and injecting R575 million into the local economy of eThekwini. These numbers are a powerful endorsement of tourism as a key driver for economic transformation in the City and the province. “As part of our efforts to make Durban the gateway to unlimited Africa, we are investing heavily on improving our infrastructure especially in key economic and tourism nodes. Through this, we are transforming the City into a place that does not only attract visitors, but also inspires investment, innovation, and inclusion,” said Mayor Xaba. 

The City continues to host major events and is fast-tracking the upgrade of iconic sporting venues including the Moses Mabhida Stadium and Kings Park Pool with an amount of R236 million and R44 million respectively. These investments are strengthening Durban’s capacity to host worldclass events and contribute significantly to enhancing the City’s visual appeal and infrastructure. This year marks the final year of the hosting contract for the Indaba and the City is determined to demonstrate why Durban deserves to remain the home of Africa’s premier tourism showcase.