Preparing for another Golden INDABA

With INDABA just a few months away and registrations already up by 7%, as compared to the same time last year, all indications are that this year’s event is on track to break a new record.

INDABA 2007 will see the launch of a brand new initiative, which is being introduced in response to the increasing importance of one of the biggest online industries in the world – the online travel industry.

The aptly named South African Tourism Online Marketing Educational Seminar will take place on 14 May, from 10:00 – 16:30 and it will show participants, from South Africa’s tourism industry how to effectively harness the power of the Internet – a cost effective medium which has the potential to provide practical solutions for small, medium and large enterprises.

A number of industry thought leaders have been invited to provide guidelines, tips, hints and case studies on how to market a tourism business online.

Local speakers will include: Diane Charton, General Manager of Acceleration Media, Luisa Mazinta, CEO of TheMarketingSite.com and Rob Stokes, CEO of Quirk eMarketing.

Several international speakers have been invited to take part and Erica Eyring, Senior Manager of Expedia.com – the world’s leading online travel website, has already confirmed her participation.

The seminar will also incorporate a research report on the online travel industry and discussions on Web 2.0 and social networking, search engine marketing, real time booking and online customer relationship marketing.

Commenting on this new initiative Fiona Buchner, E-Business Manager at South African Tourism said: “The new online seminar is a ‘must-attend’ for anyone in the tourism industry who would like to know more about marketing their business online. Bearing in mind the phenomenal growth of our tourism industry and the fact that the FIFA Soccer World Cup comes to South Africa in just three year’s time, an understanding of the online travel environment is not just important – it is essential.”

Last year, in order to establish INDABA as the Gold Standard Travel Trade Show, added-value initiatives such as the INDABA Golf Day, the Industry Seminars and the Buyer’s Networking Evening were introduced.

The overriding success of these initiatives has warranted their inclusion on the INDABA agenda again this year. The Golf Day will, yet again, treat delegates to one-on-one networking opportunities, while they hone their driving and putting skills on one of the best golf courses in the world; The Buyers Networking evening will invite key buyers from across the globe to interact more closely with local stakeholders in a relaxed environment; and The Industry Seminars will expose new entrants into the industry to organisations and individuals that influence and drive change within the tourism sector.

“In order to grow INDABA, we have plans to introduce even more seminars for international visitors and exhibitors in the future. Our aim is to bring INDABA in line- and on par with global travel trade shows such as the World Travel Market (WTM) in London and the Internationale Tourismus-Böurse (ITB) in Berlin,” say Sindile Xulu, INDABA Project Manager.

In explaining the importance of the INDABA in general, Moeketsi Mosola, CEO of South African Tourism explained that: “This is the continent’s most prestigious travel trade show. It is the one place and time on the annual tourism calendar when the entire South African tourism industry is united in the pursuit of a common objective – to sell our destination effectively in order to grow the industry and the economy. This makes INDABA a truly ‘golden’ opportunity.”

Report by The Mole