Wrap up: One of the most successful INDABAs ever!

On Tuesday 12 May, INDABA 2009 wrapped up. Exhibitors, buyers, journalists and visitors alike agree that this was one of the most successful INDABA’s ever.

By close of business on Monday afternoon, 12 002 people had come through the front door. There were fewer exhibitors at INDABA this year and there were 7.04 percent fewer visitors. However, the number of media delegates grew significantly. There were 10.24 percent more journalists at INDABA this year than last year: 673 journalists in total.

Many of the journalists at INDABA this year said that Sunday morning’s Global Media Face Off was one of the best they have ever attended at INDABA. This, along with the first ETEYA awards to be presented at INDABA and the ever-popular Welcome Awards meant that there was never a dull moment. The launch of the South African Tourism 2010 campaign garnered a lot of positive feedback and many business connections were made.

Didi Moyle, Chief Operating Officer and acting Chief Executive Officer at South African Tourism is full of praise for every effort that went into making this INDABA the success it was. “INDABA is always hard work, and not only for us at South African Tourism. A successful INDABA demands months of planning by every single delegate. It demands an investment of time and energy. It is this partnership and focus on a collective cause that makes INDABA, and our industry, as successful as they are.”

From our perspective, it was an unforgettable experience. Despite little sleep (or maybe because of it), our team managed to record over 6 hours of footage, took 73 photos, tweeted 56 times and wrote close to 3 000 words on this blog. We were blown away by the sheer scale of the event, the efficiency of the organisers and the ingenuity of the exhibitors. When people say that INDABA is a “must-see event”, they are not joking!

For more, check out our photos and videos. Who knows? You might even see yourself!

See you there next year…

~The QuirkStars