World Routes Heads to Africa for First Time in 2015

PR52529

MANCHESTER, England, Mar 25, 2013 /PRN=KYODO JBN/ --

    - Durban, KwaZulu-Natal announced as official host destination of 21st

World Route Development Forum

    It was announced today at the BRICS Summit, which is currently taking place

in Durban, South Africa that KwaZulu-Natal Province (KZN) will play host to the

21st World Route Development Forum (World Routes) at ICC Durban from 20th -22nd

September 2015.  This marks the first time in its history that the event has

been held in Africa.

    World Routes is the global meeting place for every airline, airport,

tourism board and government stakeholder and attracts attendees from over 110

countries.  The event is focused around the development of the world's air

services and hosting World Routes provides a unique opportunity for a

destination to showcase its airport, its city and its country to the air

service decision-makers of the world.  

    The announcement of Durban, KZN as the Host for World Routes 2015

represents the culmination of a successful bid to host the event driven by the

KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism in which all of

the region's key stakeholders were involved in supporting the proposal.  These

stakeholders included; Tourism KwaZulu-Natal; Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal;

Airports Company South Africa; King Shaka International Airport; Dube TradePort

Corporation; South Africa National Convention Bureau; Durban KwaZulu-Natal

Convention Bureau  and South African Airways.  

    "I'm delighted that World Routes will be taking place in Africa in 2015 and

it is fitting, with such a focus on the development of international trade,

that we are bringing it to Durban and the region of KwaZulu-Natal," said David

Stroud, Executive Vice President, Routes UBM Live continuing:  "I'd like to

thank all the team in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal for all the hard work that's been

done throughout the host bidding process, you've done a fantastic job, and I

know it's going to be a great success.  Congratulations, we look forward to

working with you."

    Commenting on the successful bid, the Provincial Minister for Economic

Development and Tourism, Mr. Michael Mabuyakhulu said:  "The announcement by

UBM Live to award KwaZulu-Natal the rights to host World Routes 2015 in Durban

is a significant achievement for our country in particular and Africa in

general, given the fact that this event will be hosted on the continent for the

very first time."

    "World Routes 2015 will position our flagship development, southern

Africa's premier air logistics platform and the home of the continent's first

purpose built aerotropolis, the Dube Trade Port, which incorporates the King

Shaka International Airport for a major growth in air services.  At the

official opening of Dube Trade Port last year, our president His Excellency

President Jacob Zuma challenged us to grow King Shaka International Airport

into becoming an alternative aviation hub.  Bringing World Routes 2015 to

KwaZulu-Natal is our response to this challenge, amongst our other strategic

initiatives.  The KwaZulu-Natal province has participated in past World Routes

events and based on our analysis we have seen how air services have improved in

airports that have hosted these events.  It is, therefore, our plan to leverage

on the hosting of World Routes 2015 to help grow air lift out of King Shaka

International Airport, the host airport for this event." he said.

    "I would like to thank the Bid Committee led by our Head of Department, Mr

Desmond Golding, our partners in this bid: ACSA, SAA, Ministry for Public

Enterprises and City of Durban for the support they gave us in bidding for this

event.  Above all we thank UBM Live for showing confidence not only in

KwaZulu-Natal, but also in our beautiful country.  We will work hard to help

UBM Live deliver the best event in 2015," he added.

    KwaZulu-Natal Province is the country's most popular domestic leisure

tourism destination and is home to Africa's busiest sea-ports:  Durban - the

busiest in Africa and Richards Bay - the deepest in Africa.  The city of Durban

is a vibrant city overflowing with cultural diversity and is the second largest

in South Africa with a population of around 4 million.

    King Shaka International Airport is a multi-billion Rand international

airport which opened in May 2010 ahead of the FIFA World Cup Championships.  

The Airport, along with its adjacent trade port "Dube TradePort" provides

world-class facilities for intercontinental passenger travel and freight

transfer.  

    The city of Durban and KwaZulu-Natal Province have embarked upon a

development strategy to grow the regional tourism economy and to increase the

number of international tourists to KZN by 2030.  The plan is to grow passenger

and cargo airlift out of King Shaka International Airport and hosting World

Routes 2015 will assist in improving the air services potential of the airport,

coupled with the trade gateway operations of the two sea ports.  In addition,

bringing the event to the growing aviation market of Africa, which also has

significant potential, will be of huge benefit to the region.

    Notes to Editors

    About Routes

    - Routes organises world-renowned airline and airport networking events

through its regional and global Route Development Forums. Each year, there is

one global event and one regional event in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas

and CIS respectively. http://www.routesonline.com

     - Routes was founded in 1995 as part of the Manchester [UK] based ASM Ltd.,

a consultancy specialising in the field of route development for airports.

http://www.asm-global.com

     - Routes and ASM were acquired by UBM Aviation Worldwide Ltd in August

2010.  From 1st August 2012 Routes, ASM and the Airport Cities Conference and

Exhibition become part of the UBM Live division of UBM plc.

     - UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across

five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products,

promote their brands and expand their markets.  Through premiere brands such as

MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show, the Routes

portfolio of events, Airport Cities and many others, UBM Live exhibitions,

conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and

certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies

across more than 20 industry sectors. http://www.ubmlive.com

    Follow us on twitter: @Routesonline, @TheHUBRoutes, @airlineroute,     

@VictoriaRoutes, @NLPROU

    SOURCE: UBM Live Routes Ltd