Minister de Lille highlights the tourism potential of Africa

The Africa’s Travel Indaba 2024 event held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban was a resounding success, attracting dignitaries and industry leaders from across the continent. Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, set the tone for the event by highlighting the charm of Durban and the KwaZulu-Natal province, emphasizing the region’s rich history and cultural experiences.

Celebrating 30 years of democracy in South Africa, Minister De Lille paid tribute to the nation’s struggle heroes and the unity fostered across the African continent during challenging times. She underscored the importance of cherishing democracy as a unifying force among nations, quoting Nelson Mandela to drive home the message.

The event showcased the vast and diverse opportunities for tourism growth in Africa under the theme ‘Unlimited Africa.’ With the participation of 26 African countries and over 1,200 exhibitors, Africa’s Travel Indaba emerged as a global showcase of the continent’s tourism potential. The Minister encouraged attendees to leverage the platform for networking and collaboration to contribute to the sustainable growth of African tourism.

Minister De Lille also highlighted the significant progress made in South Africa’s tourism sector, citing impressive statistics on international and domestic tourism growth. The robust performance of the sector underscored its pivotal role in the country’s economy, creating jobs and contributing significantly to GDP.

The Minister’s address emphasized the importance of collaboration, investment in historic sites, improving air access, and balancing competition and collaboration within the tourism industry. Overall, Africa’s Travel Indaba 2024 was a testament to the continent’s tourism potential and the collective efforts needed to realize its full growth and success.