Preparations for Africa’s Travel Indaba 2026, set to take place from 11–14 May 2026 in Durban, are steadily progressing, with a number of key milestones now being achieved as planning gains momentum.
Among these is the appointment of Synergy Business Events as the official event management company for the show. The appointment represents an important step in supporting the effective planning and coordination of the event, with Synergy Business Events bringing proven expertise in delivering large-scale, complex exhibitions and conferences.
South African Tourism will work closely with Synergy Business Events and industry stakeholders to support the delivery of a well-organised and impactful Africa’s Travel Indaba 2026.
Encouraging Market Response
Early market response to this year’s show has been encouraging. To date, 528 qualified hosted and non-hosted buyers have been confirmed, representing 34 countries. These include key international markets such as the United States, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Australia, the United Kingdom and Brazil.
Of the qualified buyers, 137 hosted and 73 non-hosted buyers are first-time participants at Africa’s Travel Indaba. These buyers span a mix of established and emerging markets, including Australia, Brazil, India and Japan, amongst other traditional core markets to South Africa.
From the rest of the African continent, new buyers attending for the first time have been confirmed from Botswana, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania and Namibia, reflecting growing intra-African participation and opportunity.
Broader representation from the SADC region is also taking shape, with buyers confirmed from Kenya, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Namibia and Mozambique.
There has also been a noticeable increase in non-hosted buyer applications, particularly from the United States, suggesting continued global interest in engaging with South Africa and the wider African tourism offering.
Steady Exhibitor Participation
On the exhibitor front, 479 applications have been received as at 26 March 2026, reflecting a solid level of participation at this stage of the process.
Preparations have now reached a point where key operational elements are being finalised, enabling the next phase of exhibitor participation to commence in the coming weeks. This will include processes such as stand allocation and related logistics.
Next Steps and Planning Milestones
The opening of the online diary is currently scheduled for 24 April 2026, with ongoing efforts to assess whether this can be brought forward to maximise meeting opportunities for both buyers and exhibitors.
Planning will continue over the coming weeks with a focus on coordination, operational readiness and supporting meaningful business engagement at the show.
Looking Ahead
Africa’s Travel Indaba remains a key platform for connecting Africa’s tourism offerings with global markets. While preparations are still underway, current progress provides a positive and encouraging foundation.
South African Tourism looks forward to working closely with partners and stakeholders to deliver a successful Africa’s Travel Indaba 2026.
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