KSIA to be officially opened by President Jacob Zuma smack bang on the INDABA weekend
Zuma to officially open King Shaka airport
April 13 2010 at 02:02PM
President Jacob Zuma will officially open the new state of the art King Shaka International Airport in KwaZulu-Natal on May 8, the province's economic development MEC said on Tuesday.
The R8-billion airport would start operating on May 1, but it would be officially opened by Zuma on May 8, MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu told members of the KwaZulu-Natal legislature in Pietermaritzburg.
"On May 8 history will be made when our president officiates at the opening of this state of the art airport which has superior facilities and a longer runway compared to the old Durban International Airport," he said.
The old Durban International Airport would be used during the World Cup then decommissioned.
"Pre-opening trials and tests of facilities continue to be undertaken to ensure that, come the decommissioning of the old airport and commissioning of the new facility, it is all systems go," he said.
He said the government's challenge was to attract more international airlines to use the airport. - Sapa
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=181&art_id=nw20100413133805936C636363
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YES! - It's definitely a tactical move taking advantage of the thousands of tourism industry delegates and media in the city for Africa's biggest travel tradeshow and a month before the World Cup!!!
INDABA 2010 set to capitalise on World Cup buzz in Durban
09. APR, 2010
INDABA 2010 in Durban is a month away and, with the World Cup kicking off in June, the southern African tourism industry is gearing up for the continent’s biggest annual travel tradeshow with more fervour than ever.
“It’s going to be a massive publicity event this year, effectively being the last major business and tourism showcase before the World Cup bonanza hits us a month later in June.
“Durban and the International Convention Centre (ICC) is going to be the epicentre of the hype around South Africa’s hosting of the World Cup,” said Ndabo Khoza, chief executive of Tourism KwaZulu-Natal.
Wendy Tlou, SA Tourism’s global communications manager, said: “Yes, Indaba 2010 is definitely going to be big because of the event’s close proximity to the World Cup.
“Many of the World Cup LOC bigwigs will be in Durban, together with some of the leading tourism industry deal-makers and government leaders.
“There are some exciting things and big names expected but that is going to be under wraps for now.
“Exhibition space for the event is sold out, and we have even reduced our SA Tourism stand this year so that the 2010 host cities can take advantage of the event and get more profile.
“We’re expecting a huge contingent of media again this year with already more than 400 registered,” said Tlou. “Many international media already in the country at that time, setting up for the World Cup, will come down to Durban for Indaba. Because of high numbers, SA Tourism is moving the media centre at Indaba to another part of the ICC and making it six times bigger this year,” she said.
Tlou would not name the VIPs expected for Indaba, but industry insiders say it won’t be surprising to see President Jacob Zuma or Fifa president Sepp Blatter among the big names attending.
There have been moves to try to get the spectacular Indaba opening ceremony broadcast on SABC. The Coca-Cola World Cup Trophy Tour is expected to start touring South Africa soon and Indaba organisers want its arrival in Durban to coincide with the trade show.
Tlou said SA Tourism was expecting similar attendance to last year because of the downturn.
However, they were expecting better quality exhibitors and tourism industry buyers at Indaba this year.
Last year, Indaba attracted more than 12 000 delegates. This included stand and event organising personnel; local and international tourism industry players – such as tour operators, airlines and destination marketing organisations; and more than 600 industry and mainstream media.
Khoza agreed with Tlou, saying that even if Indaba 2010 did not break the record in terms of attendance figures, there was no question this year’s event would be the most important and high-profile show yet.
“Due to the profile of the World Cup and hype around hosting the event, we are expecting top-quality industry buyers and better value deals to come out of this year’s Indaba. But it’s not just about the World Cup…
“The industry needs to be looking beyond that and how South African tourism can leverage off the global exposure of the event to boost international tourist arrival for years to come,” he said.
Khoza said another major factor in increasing the Indaba experience in Durban this year was the opening of the new King Shaka International Airport in May.
“This is a big thing and Indaba delegates jetting into Durban will be among the first to get to experience our stunning new airport.
“Also, many international delegates will have the opportunity to travel on Emirates Airlines’ new international air route into Durban for Indaba this year via Dubai. It will be the first time in almost a decade that they will be able to fly straight into Durban for Indaba.”
Khoza urged the KZN tourism industry to pull out all the stops to ensure that this year’s Indaba would be the best yet. He said the local industry also needed to look at the broader potential benefits from the event and not just the economic spin-offs of hosting it.
“Indaba is more than the five or so days of hosting the event. It is an industry trade show and the Durban and KZN tourism industry needs to be more proactive in taking advantage of the opportunities and business deals that could come out of Indaba,” he said.
“When we talk about the success of Indaba, it’s not just about the economic benefits of hosting the event. It is about the deals and networks that are made at Indaba with ‘buyers’ or tour operators who develop the tour packages to bring more tourists into a region. KZN tourism firms and business people taking part in Indaba need to ensure they have full diaries during the event,” said Khoza.
“The sooner the local industry realises that Indaba is not about all the tourism industry bosses staying at Durban hotels during the event, the better.
“It’s about the thousands of tourists and ‘bed-nights’ these important tourism industry people can bring into Durban as a result of business deals from Indaba.”
Meanwhile, turning to the World Cup, Khoza said this year’s Indaba would also see some last-minute industry engagements.
“It will effectively be our last opportunity to market the World Cup to the people that will help bring the tourists to South Africa – the tourism industry operators.
“But perhaps most crucial will be the large contingent of media expected. The expectations are that Indaba will get the good news about the World Cup out there and help in positively profiling the country,” he said.
Source:
http://www.travelwires.com/wp/2010/04/indaba-2010-set-to-capitalise-on-world-cup-buzz-in-durban/
