By Simon Nare
The Tourism Investment Forum Africa (TIFA) will be held in the City of uMhlathuze in KwaZulu-Natal later this year, after a deal was secured at the Meetings Africa gathering in Johannesburg which came to close on Wednesday night.
Delegates from across the continent share ideas on how to grow the event and conference industry on the continent.
uMhlathuze municipality mayor Xolani Ngwezi was thrilled about the deal that would bring businesspeople and investors from the country and the continent to explore investment opportunities in city.
At the media launch to unveil the agreement on the sidelines of the Meetings Africa, the deal was described by organisers as a milestone in the lead-up to the event.
Ngwezi said the municipality would grab the opportunity with both hands and showcase the city’s commitment to leveraging the event as a catalyst for economic growth.
“We intend to drive economic growth while positioning our port city and region as a competitive hub for export trade and investment. For this reason, the city has various investment projects in the pipeline aimed at unlocking the region’s global competitiveness, not only for trade, but also for tourism.
“Our strategic location as a gateway to the natural attractions of Zululand and Maputaland, along with our growing popularity as a cruise ship destination, makes us an ideal host for this prestigious event,” Ngwezi said.
KZN Tourism and Film Authority CEO Sibusiso Gumbi said they supported hosting the event as it aligned with the organisation’s mandate to promote the province as a tourism destination.
“Hosting the event will not only create opportunities for access to capital, but also elevate lesser-known regions and cities as attractive investment locations and business events destinations,” said Gumbi.
The event will be held from 26 to 27 August 2025 at the Thembela Events Venue in Richards Bay. It will attract key industry stakeholders, investors, policymakers and tourism leaders from across Africa and beyond.
It is expected to provide a platform for impactful discussions, partnerships and investment opportunities that will drive sustainable growth and development within the continent’s tourism sector.
“There are certainly a lot of opportunities to interest the TIFA delegates in the region. Hopefully, it will lead to future investment and development in this exciting area,” said the organisers.
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