The three-day summit, kicking off on Tuesday, held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, will host over 1 300 exhibitors, reinforcing Africa’s position as a key player in the global tourism market.  

KwaZulu-Natal’s Member of the Executive Council for Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Musa Zondi, expressed confidence that the event, which will conclude on Thursday, would inject millions of rand into the province’s Gross Domestic Product through short and long-term partnerships.  

“The most important aspect that delegates need to discuss is connectivity between Western countries and the African continent. For example, there are no direct flights from Europe to Africa due to the longstanding dominance of Western tourism industries,” Zondi stated.  

He also addressed the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) in tourism, stressing that while technology plays a crucial role, it should not replace human workers.  

“We are saying, as Africans, AI should not come at the expense of people’s jobs. It should not displace workers, and that is the core issue we will focus on,” he added.  

Chris Mears, Director of the African Travel and Tourism Association in the United Kingdom, highlighted the significance of the event in connecting African tourism operators with international buyers.  

“We are the largest private sector exhibitor at the show, and we are looking forward to Indaba as it provides a great opportunity for our over 800 members across the African continent to engage with quality buyers and enhance Africa’s tourism profile,” Mears said.  

--SABC/ChannelAfrica--