World Routes is the largest global annual event of its kind and attracts the most senior representatives from airlines, airports and tourism authorities, who wish to meet, plan and discuss new and existing global air services.
Network Planners and other key decision makers from a wide range of carriers will attend this year’s event which will take place in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa from 19-22 September 2015. The 21st World Route Development Forum will be the largest Routes event to date with an expected 3,000 high profile delegates in attendance.
The Province of KwaZulu-Natal is the country’s most popular domestic leisure tourism destination and is home to Africa’s busiest sea-ports such as Durban which is the busiest in Africa and Richards Bay, the deepest on the continent. Durban is a vibrant metropolis overflowing with cultural diversity and is the second largest in South Africa with a population of around 4 million.
In acknowledging the benefits of a globalizing economy, Durban and KwaZulu-Natal Province have embarked upon a developmental strategy to grow the regional economy and to increase the number of international tourists to the province by 2030. The plan is to grow passenger and cargo airlift out of King Shaka International Airport to connect with key regional and global trade and tourism destinations.
Speaking at World Routes 2014 in Chicago last year, Provincial Minister of Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs, Mr Michael Mabuyakhulu said: “Hosting World Routes 2015 in Durban will be an incredible opportunity and experience for the Province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, we are the most popular tourism destination for all South Africans and more international visitors are now sampling our attractions every year. Meanwhile, Durban is South Africa’s premier port handling more than 80 million tons of cargo per year. In addition the region is recognised as the country’s biggest manufacturing hub. We are also witnessing growth in the number of international investors such as Samsung who are establishing their factories in the city, thus capitalising on its strategic location for global trade. This positive trend is carried through in the improvement of our air transport logistics, particularly at Dube TradePort to ensure convenient cargo movement. We believe that hosting World Routes 2015 will further assist the province in securing more direct air linkages with the rest of the world, which is essential for accelerating the region’s radical economic growth, especially in the tourism sector.”
Many of the region’s key stakeholders have joined forces in support of World Routes 2015 including the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs; Tourism KwaZulu-Natal; Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal; Airports Company of South Africa; King Shaka International Airport; Dube TradePort; Durban & KZN Convention Bureau and as well as eThekwini Municipality.
A thriving tourist destination and aviation hub, Durban is fast becoming the most important gateway for Africa. In addition to countless opportunities to discuss business, attendees will also be introduced to the many attractions of Durban and the spectacular South African province of KwaZulu-Natal.
Register now to attend the unrivalled platform for route development professionals to build relationships, develop strategy and harness new business opportunities.
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