Durban Tourism Indaba to go ahead despite Coronavirus fears

 The South African Tourism (SAT) on Wednesday said Africa’s Travel Indaba 2020, scheduled for 12 to 14 May, will be hosted as scheduled, despite the Covid-19 outbreak, which has caused the cancellation of numerous events and international gatherings.

Organisers communicating risks

“We are in daily contact with our partners and stakeholders in South Africa as well as the relevant authorities in the travel and health sectors,” SAT’s Altaaf Kazi said.

“The Covid-19 virus presents us with an unprecedented set of circumstances that are changing on a day-to-day basis and we will continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds, and inform you of any new developments,” Kazi said.

“For association meetings and conferences, SAT will continue to work with the health and safety authorities to ensure that we have up-to-date information provision for organisers to keep them at ease of South Africa’s readiness to host business events.” 

Hygiene protocols

He said the Grading Council of South Africa was working with the convention venues to continuously enhance their hygiene protocols and ensure that scanning facilities are used for the safe management of our visiting delegates.  

“We are also carefully considering and consulting widely with regards to the measures that we will put in place at the show to provide delegates with the requisite reassurance that the situation will be effectively managed. These measures will be communicated in due course,” Kazi said.

Africa’s Travel Indaba, to be hosted in Durban, is one of the largest tourism marketing events on the African calendar and one of the top three ‘must visit’ events of its kind on the global calendar.

It showcases the widest variety of Africa’s best tourism products and attracts international buyers and media from across the world. SAT owns Africa’s Travel Indaba, which is organised by Synergy Business Events (Pty) Ltd.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Naomi Mackay