Good Morning! Sanibonani!

Africa’s Travel Indaba is an important gathering which over the next few days will witness the collective effort of rising together against the worst odds.

For the province of KwaZulu-Natal this Travel Indaba is a welcome boost as we emerge from the recent devastation caused by the floods. We count the damage from the floods in billions of rand, but importantly, we are here to tell the story of our resistance and resilience even as we have experienced this catastrophe so soon since the start of the Covid-19 in 2020.

Perhaps we more than others, have been challenged severely by these two disasters, and yet we remain grateful for the overwhelming support of our brothers and sisters from all over the world and our beloved continent of Africa.

We are indeed pleased to be among the over 4000 delegates and exhibitors from close to 40 countries who are among the first since the great floods of KwaZulu-Natal to gather in a conference of this magnitude.

As one of the largest tourism marketing events on the African calendar and in the top three on the global calendar, this event will see the stakeholders meet, engage and share with the world inspiring stories of resilience and innovation in tourism shown throughout the pandemic.  

Themed, “Africa’s Stories, Your Success” the 2022 Travel Indaba is an opportunity to showcase Africa’s top tourism products and services to the world and provides a much- needed lifeline to the tourism sector and indeed our province’s economic growth in general.

We welcome you all to the world of Inkosi Albert Luthuli, Africa’s first winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1960.

It was here that Pixley ka Isaka Seme, one of the first Africans to be educated at Oxford and Columbia Universities, challenged as outdated the notion of a backward Africa, and instead called for the “Regeneration of Africa”.  

We welcome you to the birthplace of Queens Mthaniya, Mkabayi kaJama, and Nandi, and famous Zulu Kings like Shaka ka-Senzangakhona and Cetshwayo ka-Mpande who led the amaZulu nation to victory against the British at the battle of Isandlwana in January 1879.

Along these grounds once walked the venerated Mahatma Ghandi who through his pioneering peaceful resistance to the violence of apartheid, demonstrated the capacity of men and women to rise above their circumstance, and to envision the birth of a more humane, peaceful world order.

It was a writer from here in Durban, Nat Nakasa, who long predicted the unfolding story of our diverse, multicultural rainbow nation, when he wrote at the height of apartheid that:  “My people are South Africans. Mine is the history of the Great Trek. Gandhi’s passive resistance in Johannesburg, the wars of Cetshwayo and the dawn raids which gave us the treason trials of 1956. All these are South African things. They are part of me.”

KwaZulu-Natal’s African story tells a story of unending possibilities, of a hospitable people, of a people who are generous in welcoming visitors. It is crafted not only in the rich culture, stories, performances, and histories of our people, but in the roots of this very majestic land known to have a warm season throughout the year.

We are one of the most unique destinations in the world, boasting two iconic World Heritage Sites, the Ukhahlamba Drakensberg which is the home to the original Khoisan paintings and Isimangaliso Wetland Park, which truly makes KZN a bucket list destination for travelers across the world.

This Travel Indaba is an appropriate opportunity for our country and province to re-enter the world stage and through tourism, to rekindle and enhance the prospects of our economic growth and employment creation.

According to the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA), the tourism sector had lost 470 000 jobs due to COVID-19 with only 37% of employees receiving 100% of their salaries in February 2022.

In KZN, tourism is a key pillar in our Provincial Economic Recovery and Transformation Plan. Prior to Covid-19 it contributed at least 9.5% to the GDP of the province.

Efforts to re- ignite the sector include intensive marketing of KwaZulu-Natal, support for rural and township tourism organisation and working with municipalities to improve roads and connectivity. In this regard, we stand ready as a province to support national efforts to respond positively to the UN World Tourism Organisation (UNTWO) for the development of Brand Africa.

Ladies and Gentlemen, after a two year break, two KZN’s major events are back this year and we hope to see many of you participating or involved in one way or the other in them: The Comrades Marathon and Durban July Handicap.

We have partnered with ACSA to ensure that as a gateway to the continent, KZN becomes a preferred tourism destination in South Africa. We are implementing the Durban Aerotropolis Strategy to position the City of eThekwini to become a premier business and trade hub in Sub-Saharan Africa. We have also invested massively to in the building and revamping of Regional Airports like Mkhuze and Margate.

We have called on national government to facilitate the return of airlines to South Africa and to King Shaka International Airport. Air Mauritius, a key player in the KwaZulu Natal tourism returned to South Africa in January 2021 and we also look forward to the reinstatement of direct links between Durban and Zanzibar which used to be operated by Mango.

As we indicated during the State of the Province Address this year, passenger numbers at King Shaka International Airport have steadily increased in 2021 and in total 2.8 million passengers passed through our main airport in 2021. This is 550,582 more passengers than in 2020 and we have a reason to celebrate this recovery.

Already there are signs of hope for the revival of tourism in South Africa. The latest statistics released in April this year by StatSA indicate the volume of arrivals have increased by 84,3% between November 2020  and November 2021.  Departures increased by 93,8% during the same period.

Going forward, Strategic Routes have been identified by the KwaZulu-Natal Route Development Committee which prioritise a number of African Regional hubs, European hubs such at the UK, Asia and the Americans.

We have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that as an integral part of Africa and SADC, we need to coordinate our response not as individual provinces or countries, but as a continent seeking to position the region and to better harmonize the health and safety protocols in dealing with the pandemic.

Through the Tourism Sector Recovery Plan (TSRP) acknowledgement is made of the need for targeted, coordinated action to mitigate the impact of the crisis and setting the sector on the most optimal path to recovery, transformation and long-term sustainability.

One of the fundamental conditions is that the reconstruction of the sector must at the same time advance transformation by enabling the expanded participation of black people, women, youth and people with disabilities in the sector. 

Through the pooling the resources of our Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and Commercial Banks we hope to ease access to capital and operational funding for the previously disadvantaged.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we invite Africa and the international community to join our province in developing and packaging a variety of culture-heritage products which are in the last analysis the lifeblood of tourism. There are also many investment opportunities in developing tourism infrastructure and diversifying our tourism opportunities.

We are pleased to report that in November 2021, we completed the KwaZulu-Natal Cruise Terminal (KCT) within the Port of Durban.

Tourism investment opportunities in cultural and nature-based tourism include:

• Development of Woodstock Dam Resort in the Drakensberg in Bergville.

• Development of Shakaland Resort and Cultural Village in eShowe.

• Development of Tourism and Cultural Centre in Amatata Mountain in Ethekwini, Durban.

• Development of Balele Game Reserve in Emadlangeni, Utrecht.

• Establishment of Durban Eye Ferris Wheel in Ethekwini along the beach front.

• Development of accommodation facilities in and around iSimangaliso World Heritage Site.

We want to live to tell the story of a province of KwaZulu-Natal that has been sharpened by the anvil of fire and yet emerged stronger and with more fortitude. In the face of natural disaster and destruction as KwaZulu-Natal we together banded to form an army of resistance and united in our diversity to forge a new and better place for future generations.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we are truly honoured this morning to have South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu delivering the keynote address. Minister Sisulu knows our continent and the world intimately as she has previously served as Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Minister Defence and Military Veterans, and recently as Minister of Human Settlements. She is a child of the African National Congress, a gender and transformation activist. The national Department of Tourism is fortunate to be led by her at this crucial time, and we have no doubt that she will live imprints that will grow the industry for all the children of our land and our continent to benefit and prosper.

Please join me in welcoming Minister Sisulu to the podium.

I thank you.