The growth and success of Mpumalanga Province’s tourism is embedded in the sustainability of its supply market, which comprises of Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMME’s).

It is for this reason that the Gert Sibande Municipality (GSDM) and the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) took a record number of SMME’s to this year’s Africa’s Travel Indaba.

This well-established event on the global tourism calendar was held at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban from 14 to 16 May under the theme “Unlimited Africa”.

 

Gert Sibande TVET College’s Isiqalo Guesthouse based in Standerton, Lekwa Local Municipality, Sekusile Guesthouse based in eMbalenhle, Secunda, Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, Mount Lu Casa Lodge based in Emanzana (Badplaas), Chief Albert Luthuli Local Municipality and Q’s Hotel and Apartments which has facilities in Standerton and Evander, Govan Mbeki Local Municipality commended the GSDM and MPTA for affording them the platform to showcase and sell their products at this global trade show.

 

A record number of 26 African countries exhibited at this year’s event and include Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zanzibar and Zimbabwe. A total of 1100 high quality buyers representing 55 countries attended this year’s Africa’ Travel indaba.

 

The Minister of Tourism, Ms Patricia de Lille encouraged all the exhibitors to make full use of the all the systems in place and take advantage of the show’s advanced technology to carve out meaningful connections with the valued buyers who have a keen interest in the continent.