In his keynote welcome South African Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom said, “We want you here to be a light to the millions of LGBT people in our country, so that wherever they are, they might know that they are not alone – that they are quite normal and that they should live their lives unafraid. For that is the kind of country we are trying to build.”
The emotionally charged speech set the tone for the days to come, which included Trevor Tutu accepting an award from IGLTA’s board chair on behalf of his father, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and LGBT activist Ndumie Funda addressing the abuse that lesbians face in Cape Town’s townships. The convention also featured reports on global tourism from the World Travel & Tourism Council, the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the Pacific Asia Travel Association.
On the second day of the conference, the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce kicked off its new South African LGBTI Business Network, created in partnership with The Other Foundation in Johannesburg. The convention closed with a series of community-based educational events organized through the IGLTA Foundation, and a networking event hosted by the 2017 convention host city, St. Petersburg, Florida.
“This was our first conference on the African continent, so we knew it would be an amazing event, but it exceeded all of our expectations,” said John Tanzella, IGLTA President/CEO. “LGBT travel is not just about business, it’s also about inspiration – and South Africa delivered.”
