Mpumalanga Tourism Expo Celebrates Rich African Heritage
The Mpumalanga Tourism Expo burst into life at Riverside Mall in Mbombela, concluding heritage month and welcoming transport month in style.
This 5th annual three-day event showcased the best of South Africa’s domestic tourism, empowering local SMEs and reigniting the passion for local travel.
Seventy-seven (77) visionary exhibitors from across the nation converged to unveil their prized tourism products and services, attracting 21 high-powered buyers from key markets, including the Kingdom of eSwatini, Mozambique, and Lesotho.
A groundbreaking collaborative tourism initiative between four Southern African nations aims to drive economic growth and development in the region. By pooling their resources, expertise, and attractions, these countries are poised to create a robust tourism industry that showcases the diversity and richness of Southern Africa’s cultural heritage, natural beauty, and wildlife.
The expo’s expected outcomes include increased tourist arrivals and revenue, job creation, and stimulation of local economies, as well as enhanced global competitiveness in the tourism sector.
According to Xolani Mthethwa, Founder and CEO of Jakada Holdings, which has been hosting the expo since 2001 in collaboration with the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency,
“Our roads have lots of potholes, attractions lack signage, and it becomes a problem because our tourists end up getting lost and become victims of criminal activities,” he said pleading with the municipality to prioritise infrastructure and safety.
Nomasonto Ndlovu, a prominent figure in the tourism industry and founder of Beacon Africa Tourism Consultancy, emphasised the importance of effective marketing.
“You didn’t just come here to decorate a stall. You came to start conversations that turn into business. Every person who stops by your stall is a potential booking, a referral, or a future partner,” she said, adding that business owners should tell one powerful story, engage three times more people than planned, and follow up with every lead within 3 days to get real results.
“This turns stalls into stories, stories into bookings.”
The expo featured a successful minute speed marketing session, where businesses got a chance to sell themselves.
Emma Bernard’s Global Village Guesthouse, based in the Kingdom of Eswatini, Manzini Town, reported expanding their partnerships.
“The guesthouse offers accommodation, conferencing, a bar, and a restaurant, accommodating 32 guests,” she adding that she’s ready to connect with other businesses to other countries.
Mankwe Game Trackers from the North West Province understand Moses Kotane Municipality invited more tourists to their province saying it is Malaria free. “Tourists can do cross country visits from Mozambique to Eswatini via Mpumalanga to North West Province on the best provinces in South Africa “ said Patrick Nkwe, chairman of greater Pilanesberg your operators association.