Recommend July 2015 - (Page 29)

africa onsitereview indaba 2015 M AY 2 0 1 5 (WITH A TASTE OF DURBAN) deserae del campo Durban's Golden Mile promenade. DESERAE DEL CAMPO At INDABA 2015, the largest tourism tradeshow in Africa showcasing Pan-African tourism products and services, the new Honorable Minister of Tourism, Derek Andre Hanekom, thought it fitting to recite a quote from former President Nelson Mandela: "When he [Nelson Mandela] opened the first INDABA in a free South Africa, this is what President Mandela said, 'It is in tourism that nature and humanity meet most equitably and profitably. It also provides the resources for the conservation of our natural heritage. Furthermore, tourism is making an important and valuable contribution to the South African economy.' Now, 20 years later, those words still echo throughout our sector." For four days last May, the city of Durban welcomed just over 1,000 exhibitors from 20 African countries, about 2,000 buyers and 750 members of the media from around the globe at INDABA 2015. Destinations from Zambia to Botswana, as well as local cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg were in attendance; and international hotel brands, safari camps & lodges, and Africanbased tour operators set up their booths to present their products to the hundreds in attendance-all with the ultimate goal of increasing tourism to Africa. International tourism to Africa increased to 56 million last year and is expected to increase by up to 5 percent in 2015, as "more and more people are venturing out to discover new places, leaving the familiar behind to seek new experiences; to meet new people and discover their culture," said Hanekom during INDABA's opening ceremony. Projected numbers have Africa welcoming 85 million international visitors in 2020 and 134 million in 2030. What might some of these new (or returning) travelers experience while in Africa? Here's a look at a few new offerings in Africa's hotel and tourism scene straight from INDABA. what's new Mandela App: The biggest buzz at INDABA 2015 was the newly launched Madiba's Journey app, an interactive app that features 27 tourist attractions and sites in South Africa that reflect the life of Nelson Mandela (Madiba is Mandela's clan name); the 27 sites represent each year he spent behind bars as a political prisoner. The app allows users to view the destinations on a map with directions on how to get there; create their own itineraries; share the experiences on social media; and listen to audio that describes the site and what its significance means to Mandela. New Lodges & Camps: A mix of voluntourism and boutique camping is what makes AfriCamps an interesting new product, especially for those clients who are big into experiencing a destination and getting to know the locals, too. Set on local farms in South Africa, AfriCamps are homey, canvas tents able to july 2015 27

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend July 2015

Editor’s Notes
Hotel Desk: Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Loews Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Goway’s IslandsEscapes
Adventures in North America
Romania: Superbly Scenic, Marvelously Medieval
Central Europe With Adventures by Disney
Get Off That Beach Chair!
Off-Beat Adventures
INDABA 2015 (With a Taste of Durban)
A Treasured Journey Into the Past
Small Boats & Big Tortoises in the Galapagos
Windstar Cruises’ Star Breeze
Hapag-Lloyd’s Europa 2

Recommend July 2015