South African Tourism has confirmed Indaba, the flagship travel event in Africa, will be revamped to ensure it remains the premier platform to capitalise on resilient global travel interest.

After extensive consultation with the tourism industry, SAT has taken the decision to reduce Indaba from the usual four days to three days next year, with Indaba 2013 taking place from May 11th-13th.

This has been met with mixed reviews by industry, as the price of exhibiting at the “shorter, sharper show” remains the same.

“South Africa offers potential international tourism buyers and tour operators a tangible opportunity for business growth and to be a part of South Africa’s tourism success story.

“Indaba undoubtedly remains the tourism industry’s premier business networking event and will remain one of the most exciting travel trade shows on the annual tourism business calendar.

“Indaba is not about breaking attendance records, but is focusing on attracting quality buyers, exhibitors and visitors. Although delegate numbers dropped slightly this year, we attracted a number of quality hosted buyers and exhibitors that compare favourably with 2010 attendance statistics,” says Thulani Nzima, chief executive at SAT.

Indaba 2013 is described as geared at giving visiting buyers easy access to the widest cross section of the local tourism industry, which comes out in force each year to showcase innovative offerings and to do business in a destination which saw over ten per cent growth in tourist arrivals in the first half of 2012.