DURBAN — As nearly 10 000 delegates, over 1 000 hosted and non-hosted buyers from 44 countries and more than 1 100 exhibitors from 22 African countries gathered at the 2026 Africa’s Travel Indaba, Thembisile Hani Local Municipality called on other municipalities in Mpumalanga to invest more in tourism marketing and participate in international platforms such as the Indaba, saying the economic benefits linked to tourism continue to positively impact local communities and businesses.
Speaking to Highveld Chronicle during the tourism exhibition hosted in Durban from 11 to 14 May 2026 under the theme “Unlimited Africa: Growing Africa’s Tourism Economy,” Municipal Manager Dumisani Mahlangu said municipalities should view tourism exhibitions as investments that contribute towards local economic growth.
Mahlangu, attending the Indaba for the third time, said Thembisile Hani Local Municipality was the only local municipality from Mpumalanga with its own stand at the exhibition and encouraged others to follow in their footsteps.
“Marketing is very powerful, tourism and the informal sector contribute greatly towards the local GDP and when we see an influx of visitors coming our way we know that it is a result of our participation at the Indaba,” said Mahlangu.
He said the municipality has already seen the value of tourism promotion through both cultural and sports tourism initiatives, with the goal of seeing tourism become one of the top contributors towards the local GDP.
“We have seen great potential, we are all about cultural tourism working with Gogo Nosinky Mahlangu, the Order of Ikhamanga recipient, as our ambassador alongside six Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), allowing them to show what they can do,” he said.
Mahlangu further highlighted the recent impact of sports tourism following the upgrade of the Solomon Mahlangu Stadium to a standard capable of hosting Premier Soccer League (PSL) matches.
He said the recent Nedbank Cup quarter-final match between TS Galaxy and Mamelodi Sundowns hosted at the stadium attracted large numbers of sport fanatics into the municipality, resulting in accommodation facilities around the area being fully booked while local businesses also benefited from increased trading activity.
Mahlangu added that the municipality remains committed to continuing its participation at the Indaba in future should council approve the investment again next year.
“If council approves, we are definitely coming back next year because we are seeing the value and impact of being part of this platform,” he said.
Sophie Nosinky Mahlangu echoed the Municipal Manager’s sentiments, saying the exposure received through the Indaba continues to create opportunities for artists and cultural entrepreneurs.
“This is great marketing for us, being here we see a great difference, we get a lot of orders and others we must courier requests for special custom products made at the Indaba, with others coming to visit our place,” she said.
Gogo Nosinky further encouraged upcoming artists to remain patient, assuring them that recognition and opportunities come with time. She also expressed appreciation to Thembisile Hani Local Municipality for believing in and supporting her journey.
