In the wake of considerable protest from Indaba stand-holders from the Western Cape Hospitality sector, South African Tourism has agreed to relocate the Cape Town and Western Cape Indaba 2010 exhibit to the Durban Exhibition Centre (DEC).

"With Indaba billed as the southern hemisphere's largest annual travel trade fair, and moreover with the Western Cape serving as a major gateway to the rest of South Africa and beyond, our members felt it was vital that the province be accorded a more strategically visible area, all the more so for Indaba 2010." So says FEDHASA Cape Chairperson Phillip Couvaras.

FEDHASA Cape "in no small way", through its 620 strong membership has helped to  lobby the Western Cape Hospitality industry for an improved Indaba location.

"We praise South African Tourism for the wisdom of their decision to relocate our stand to directly opposite their stand," Couvaras continues, and adds that the SADC countries have been shifted into the tented pavilion - the exhibition area previously occupied by Western Cape.

"Instead of a repeat of this year's Indaba, where we were pushed into a tent which frankly resulted in a significant amount of lost business, our new prime spot offers the Western Cape Hospitality sector an ideal opportunity to make a once-in-a-lifetime impression upon Indaba 2010 delegates a short while ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Soccer matches," he adds.

Couvaras notes the strategic significance of "the landmark province and a key focal point of South Africa's tourism showcase" - Cape Town and the Western Cape - in terms of domestic and international arrival statistics relative to the majority of the other provinces.

FEDHASA Cape appeals to its members to forward all comments regarding their involvement in the Indaba 2010 Western Cape stand to Executive Officer Rema van Niekerk without delay and to copy in Cape Town Routes Unlimited's 2010 Co-ordinator Minette Smit. Van Niekerk can be reached at rema@fedhasa.co.za and Smit at minette@tourismcapetown.co.za.

"Given that space limitations are the only down-side to this new stand position, it is imperative that our members input as soon as possible on their stand requirements both from a creative branding and logistics perspective," says Couvaras.

"Given the great many international and domestic Indaba delegates and the enormous amount of business conducted at Indaba annually, it is imperative that we beam out as the united front we always strive to be," he adds.

FEDHASA Cape, together with its joint marketing "JAMMS" partners Cape Town Tourism, the Southern African Association for the Conferencing Industry (SAACI), and Southern African Tourism Services (SATSA), combined forces in making their members' collective disgruntlements known to South African Tourism, under whose auspices Indaba is hosted.

Following Indaba 2009, held in May, FEDHASA Cape's office was swamped with complaints from members regarding the position of this year's stand. A survey was conducted among members, which revealed, among others, that the tent was perceived 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.

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.