HOME-GROUND ADVANTAGE COUNTS: TOURISN KZN

Nkonzwenhle Mqadi
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TOURISM KwaZulu-Natal CEO Ndabo Khoza has broadly pronounced that Durban has become synonymous with Indaba Tourism symposium and it was crucial that the city and the province play a vital and defining role towards its marketing by taking full advantage of their home-ground advantage.

Speaking on the eve of the Tourism Indaba 2009, Khoza highlighted Durban's superb hosting facilities to major international events as the prime motivating factor that coincides with the city's 20th occassion celebrations in hosting the travel, business and trade show as it marks its 30th annivessary this year.

"An important objective for TKZN is to ensure that KwaZulu-Natal tourism trade gains a competitive edge from the fact that Indaba was hosted in Durban.
Hosting Indaba Tourism show gives tremondous opportunities to all KZN tour operators to fully showcase what the province has to offer.
Establishing sound marketing relationships with potential buyers will strengthen the position of KZN operators and give them opportunities to leverage optimum advantage" asserts Khoza.

He highlighted numerous trade developments in KZN that have the potential to attract the international tourist, and implored the KZN tourism operators to maximise their home-ground advantage.

The provincial tourism authorithy's Head noted that the participation in the Cruise Indian Ocean Association (CIOA) and that they will table it during the Indaba discussions to influence strategy, decision-making and the direction Afica was taking within the cruise industry as the Zulu Kingdom reposition itself in the global cruise fleets.
"Also the construction of the new La Mercy international airport carries a huge potential to increase Durban's competitive positioning as the new airport stand to enhance a strong regional partnerships and further strengthen our competitivess throughout the world.
And I also call for the Zulu Kingdom to be turned into a travel hub and be developed and built into a resort tourism mecca because we've a superb all-year good weather and pristine coasts" explained Khoza.

eThekwini Municipality Mayor Obed Mlaba concurred fully with the vision propounded by the TKZN leadership.
"That Durban was identified as a 2010 FIFA World Cup finals ' Host City status is a major drawcard attraction to the international, overseas visitor attending the Indaba 2009 , and the trade show will give them a holistic view of what Durban and the wider KZN can offer to the outside world" says Mlaba
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