Travel Companies: Make sure you participate in the various trade shows!

Travel and tourism in South Africa is big business, and as such attracts a lot of competition from tour operators and travel agents all over the world. Everyone has to advertise obviously, using internet ads, broadcast and print media, and so on. Even in this hyper-connected world, there is still a demand for the face-to-face element. Many people like to meet and talk to their travel agents in person. After all, we do more business with people we are familiar with. And having attracted a client, they tend to stay with the same agent, sometimes for many years.

Travel shows are a way of getting that personal angle out into a new crowd. The Indaba Show, in Durban, South Africa, took place in May 2016 and is one of the biggest events of it's kind in the country. Many companies involved in the South African tourism business come together under one roof for a few days, and visitors to the exhibition get to see the wealth of opportunities and experiences that are available to anyone who wants to travel around South Africa.

In addition to this, members of the public in South Africa will want to see the latest options for traveling to different parts of the world. At the Travel Expo in February 2016 for instance, there were massive flight discounts offered, and 40% off some destinations - even some "buy one, get one free" offers.

Exhibiting at a show like Indaba for a travel company means plenty of preparation is required. Different sized businesses have differing needs and budgets, and many will not have their own specialist equipment for exhibition events like this.

Exhibitions need to be of high quality, and need to be robust, to survive the rigors of use and abuse. Some of this "abuse" might simply mean being stored for months on end, or being mishandled by people unfamiliar with the equipment.

Travel events in South Africa like Indaba or the Travel Expo attract hundreds of exhibitors, so if you're looking to put together a new exhibition stand, you want to make sure you can "stand out" from others around you.

Getting the physical stand constructed is just one part of the problem; you want to be sure that any banners or other advertising materials are going to fit with the stand, and can be attached securely but tidily. If possible, it's worth finding a supplier who can give you the whole package, so that you know in advance that the advertising materials will fit perfectly on your exhibition stand.

Exhibiting at a big show like Indaba might seem costly for some smaller businesses, but it is possible to get space as a "sharing exhibitor" by working with a "main standholder". Any subsidiary exhibits like this still need to be approved in advance by the event organizers.

Advertising at travel shows in South Africa can be a useful boost for business, as these events are attended not just by the public, but by the media as well. Get the best quality exhibition stand possible, and you will hopefully attract some media attention, and spread your message much further than the local exhibition audience.