FEDHASA Cape is lobbying for a better position for the Western Cape stand at next year's INDABA in Durban and is calling for the Western Cape stand to be moved to the Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC) for the all important 2010 INDABA, while the various country and airline exhibitors, to name but two, be moved to the tent which was occupied by Western Cape at this year's May INDABA, held in Durban.

As the southern hemisphere's largest annual travel trade fair, this year's INDABA saw many disgruntled FEDHASA Cape members express concern that the Western Cape Pavilion was situated in a tent that, according to a survey among members, is seen as an area that is too remote, poorly maintained and thus also inadequate to represent the Western Cape at this prestigious event that many tourism product owners rely on for a significant amount of business generation.

"We welcome Cape Town Tourism's calling together a meeting between FEDHASA Cape's JAMMS Partners - that is, our joint marketing partners: Cape Town Tourism, the Southern African Association for the Conferencing Industry (SAACI), and Southern African Tourism Services (SATSA)," comments FEDHASA Cape Chairperson Phillip Couvaras. "We are confident that by effectively communicating our joint concerns to the INDABA organizers, our pleas may very well be taken up and the required changes implemented," he adds.

Couvaras points out the strategic significance of the Cape Town and the Western Cape in terms of domestic and international arrival statistics relative to the majority of the other provinces.
"It is a concern that what many view as the landmark province - indeed a, if not the, key focal point of South Africa's tourism showcase," he continues, "is pushed to one side, instead housed in a tent with the guaranteed consequence of a significant degree of lost business."
An appeal to sign an online petition is presently being forwarded among tourism stakeholders and can be viewed at http://mypetition.co.za/petition/349. Once signed by as many affected parties as possible, the petition will then be submitted to the INDABA organisers for consideration.

Since its establishment in 1949, FEDHASA has become known as the lobbying body and watchdog for the Southern African hospitality industry locally, nationally and in all tiers of governments on tourism, legislation, trading conditions, taxation, education and related industry issues. The association services 5 segments, i.e. hotels, small accommodation, restaurants and catering, suppliers of products and services to the industry and now also a Youth segment.

For any further enquiries, please visit www.fedhasacape.co.za / www.fedhasa.co.za, e-mail fedhasacape@fedhasa.co.za, or call FEDHASA Cape on (021) 552 9870.