Attending the 19th World Routes Development Forum, hosted by World Routes in the American City of Las Vegas, were KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Economic Development & Tourism, Mr Michael Mabuyakhulu (left) and his Seychelles counterpart, Minister of Tourism & Culture, Mr Alain St Ange.

The event attracted around 3000 delegates from more than 100 countries that discussed various issues relating to world’s travel and hospitality industry â€" with special emphasis on the development of new tourism destinations and improvement of essential logistics such as airports and accommodation facilities to ensure equitable distribution of business opportunities in the world economy.

The forum provides an opportunity for travel and tourism authorities as well as government representatives to share information and strategies on how to market their countries and cities as ideal tourism and investment destinations. Meanwhile KwaZulu-Natal would be hosting the 21st World Routes Development Forum in 2015.

This is a demonstration of the province’s rising star as an active player in the regional and global economy which is boosted by the advanced travel facilities such as new King Shaka International Airport on the north of Durban.