Minister hails travel expo for local tourism growth
Minister of Tourism Vera Kamtukule says the Africa Travel Indaba underway in Durban, South Africa provides a platform for Malawi tourism players to meet with global buyers and market their products and services.
The minister is in South Africa and she took part in the Tourism Ministerial Panel yesterday, after the event kicked off on Tuesday to run until today.
In a telephone interview, she said 11 players in the tourism sector are part of the event where they will gain exposure to wide ranging network of tourism trade industry players from all over Africa and the world.
Said Kamtukule: “This year’s theme is ‘Unlimited Africa, showcasing unlimited opportunity in tourism. And for Malawi’ as a country this means more exposure in terms of destination marketing.
“We have over 200 buyers that are from Africa, and around the globe from our source markets enhancing our brand visibility. There are 26 countries being represented with a minimum of 10 000 visiting the exhibition areas.”
Some of the exhibitors representing Malawi are Umodzi Park, Sunbird Tourism plc, Travel Centre, Small Steps Adventure Tours, Blue Zebra, Sigelege Hotels, African Parks, Nyasa Express, Mpale Cultural Village, Club Makokola Retreat, Crafted Africa, and Ministry of Tourism.
In a separate interview, Sunbird Tourism plc head of sales, marketing and distribution Temwa Kanjadza said the Indaba offers great opportunities.
“The presence of Sunbird Hotels at the Africa Travel Indaba is one of Sunbird’s key strategies for destination marketing and mitigating against overreliance of the domestic market,” she said.
Entertainers Promotions chief executive officer Tendai Banda, who is also general manager of Stake Out Bar and Restaurant, said the Indaba is a good platform to merge entertainment and tourism.
