South Africa’s third largest city Durban has demonstrated it’s remarkable capacity  to host mega-events as it holds ATI 2025 in same period it hosted Amakhosi and Buccaneers fans when they visited the city to watch the 2025 Nedbank Final five days ago. The consecutive hosting of thousands of visitors into the city over a seven day period, just two days after the final is to be commended by city leadership, officials and all stakeholders. The Nedbank Cup was on Sartuday and ATI commenced on Monday the 12th May 2025.

South Africa’s Deputy President Mr Paul Mashatile , Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille ,KwaZulu Natal Premier Thami Ntuli ,MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental affairs Reverend Musa Zondi, joined by eThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba and other dignitaries all descended into the warm City of Durban to declared this mega-tourism trade show open. Beaming with excitement and resonant with the theme for 2025 ‘Unlimited Africa’ , the event was officially  opened. 

Many in the tourism industry have praised the City of eThekwini for successfully hosting South African Tourism owned event  ATI for over 25 years whilst demonstrating immense capability to host all other kinds of events such as the recent Nedbank Cup Final held at the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium this past weekend of the 10^TH May 2025.

ATI 2025 is projected to generate R232 million in direct spend and inject R575 million into the local economy. Addressing the delegates in his opening Cllr Cyril Xaba said “These numbers are a powerful endorsement of tourism as a key driver for economic transformation in the city and the province”. In the constrained Job sector, Tourism has consistently contributed about 1.84 million jobs to the South African Republic. Over 27 African nations have graced the majestic KwaZulu Natal province in search of prospective partnerships and opportunities for the future. It is such socio-economic spin-offs that ATI nurtures and envisages.  According to Sportswire, the Chiefs vs Pirates Nedbank Cup final also made a positive socio-economic impacts into the city economy as it is estimated to have generated at least R93 million in direct spend to the city. 

Durban has been home to ATI for more than 25 years, held since its inception at the Durban Inkosi Albert Luthuli Convention Centre. The ICC has been voted 18^th time as the winner for Africa’s Leading Meetings and Conference by the World Travel Awards demonstrating this confidence in hosting mega-conferences and events by the city.

There is acknowledgement of a constrained global economy as South Africa’s unemployment rate remains significantly high, however, industries such as Tourism have proven to be a necessary vigor and insulant to the socio-economic challenges of the country at least with respect to sectoral resilience. South Africans are a warm people , with a generally warm weather, diverse cultures , natural beauty, fauna and flora and a rich heritage. It is such attributes coupled with the capacity of hosting  such mega-events that will sustain the tourism economy into the long-term future. 

Author : Sthandiwe Mkhize