MORE THAN 500 GLOBAL TOURISM LEADERS PUT NELSON MANDELA BAY IN WORLD SPOTLIGHT
Published: September 30, 2026<< BACK TO NEWS
More than 500 international delegates from across the world have converged on Nelson Mandela Bay for the 85th Skål International World Congress, providing the city and the Eastern Cape with a significant international platform to showcase the destination, strengthen global tourism relationships and create opportunities across the local tourism economy.
The World Congress is being hosted in Nelson Mandela Bay from 29 September to 2 October 2026, with the main programme taking place at the Boardwalk Hotel, Casino and Convention Centre in Summerstrand, Gqeberha. The Municipality views the hosting of the Congress as an opportunity that extends well beyond the four-day programme. It places Nelson Mandela Bay directly in front of an international network of tourism professionals who influence travel markets, destination choices, tourism partnerships, conference business and future visitor flows.
Skål International is a global professional organisation bringing together leaders and professionals from across the travel and tourism industry. Founded in Paris in 1934, the organisation has approximately 12 500 members, 294 clubs and a presence in more than 75 countries.
Its international network connects professionals across tourism, hospitality, travel agencies, airlines, destinations and related sectors, with friendship, networking and business among tourism professionals central to its work.
For Nelson Mandela Bay, the presence of hundreds of international tourism professionals provides an important opportunity to move destination marketing beyond traditional promotion by allowing influential members of the global tourism industry to experience the city and the wider Eastern Cape firsthand.
The Congress programme includes an Opening Ceremony, Global Marketplace, business to business networking, tourism exhibitions, the Skål International Annual General Assembly, panel discussions and presentations, as well as the President's Gala Dinner.
Delegates will also have opportunities to experience tourism attractions in Nelson Mandela Bay and the wider Eastern Cape through a range of excursions, including marine and wildlife experiences, the Jeffreys Bay surf experience, Cape St Francis Ocean Safari, St Francis Links Golf Estate, as well as SANCCOB and Cape Recife. These experiences provide a direct showcase of the region's coastal and marine tourism, Algoa Bay, beaches and outdoor activities, wildlife and nature-based tourism, heritage and cultural attractions, Nelson Mandela related tourism, hospitality infrastructure, conference and business tourism, as well as local tourism businesses and products.
Member of the Executive Committee MEC Nokqubela Peters said the hosting of the Congress provides an important platform for advancing the province's tourism ambitions.
"Hosting this Congress is a major boost to Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape in our efforts to build on the foundations we have made. This is a good opportunity for profiling the province as a destination of choice. Tourism is one of the contributors in the bigger strategic economic goals of the province. We appreciate the contribution conferences of this nature have,” said MEC Peters.
Nelson Mandela Bay Executive Mayor Councillor Babalwa Lobishe said the hosting of the Congress demonstrates the City's growing profile as an international conferencing destination and provides an opportunity to strengthen the City's position within international tourism markets.
"As the City, we are encouraged to see the efforts we put in are paying off. For the past two years we have seen growth in the international conferencing industry. In the past four years we successfully hosted international events such as G20 and BRICS, and now we are hosting the Skål Congress, which directly talks to the tourism industry.
"Hosting more than 500 international delegates provides Nelson Mandela Bay with an extraordinary destination marketing opportunity. These are tourism professionals who can experience our City, understand our tourism offering and take that knowledge back into their respective markets.
"The value of this Congress therefore goes beyond the four days of the event. It is about building international relationships, creating visibility for our destination, opening doors for our tourism businesses and ensuring that Nelson Mandela Bay remains connected to the global tourism economy,” said Executive Mayor Lobishe.
A key component of the Skål Congress is the Global Marketplace and business to business networking, creating opportunities for tourism businesses to establish relationships with international counterparts and explore potential partnerships, destination marketing opportunities, tourism packages, referrals, international visitor markets and future tourism events.
The Congress also provides an opportunity for local tourism products and businesses to be introduced to professionals who operate across different international markets, creating a platform for relationships that can potentially continue beyond the conclusion of the event.
The Municipality regards this international exposure as an important part of its broader destination marketing approach. By bringing international tourism professionals into the city and enabling them to experience the destination, Nelson Mandela Bay can showcase its tourism assets through direct experience while strengthening relationships within the global tourism value chain.
The hosting of the World Congress also places Nelson Mandela Bay within the international programme of an established tourism organisation whose members engage with destinations across different global markets.
For the City, this creates an opportunity to strengthen its positioning as a coastal, marine, wildlife, heritage, business, conferencing and leisure tourism destination while showcasing the diversity of experiences available within Nelson Mandela Bay and the wider Eastern Cape.
The Congress is also expected to create opportunities for local economic participation through accommodation, hospitality, transport, tourism experiences, events, retail and other services associated with hosting international visitors. The Municipality, together with its tourism partners, will continue working to maximise the opportunities presented by international conferences and events by strengthening destination marketing, supporting local tourism businesses, developing international relationships and positioning Nelson Mandela Bay for increased tourism and business opportunities.
The hosting of the Skål International World Congress provides Nelson Mandela Bay with a unique opportunity to welcome the world, showcase the destination and build relationships that can extend well beyond the Congress itself.
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