The ICC began the expansion last year and has already added one-third of the new space to the exhibition centre. ICC CEO Alec Gilbert said at the weekend that the world-class indoor arena would be completed by next year.

On winning the rights to host the 2004-2006 Tourism Indaba, the ICC and the city of Durban promised South African Tourism they would develop the country?s premier tourism showcase and provide the service and facilities needed to ensure the event attracted attention on the international tourism calendar.

Durban has hosted the Indaba since the early 1990s and will complete its bid for the 2007-2010 cycle later this year. Other strong contenders would be the Cape Town and Sandton convention centres.

Gilbert said in future, Indaba would incorporate events in the newly completed ICC Arena. He believed the world-class facility provided Durban with "an international icon".

"The arena will position the ICC in a league of its own, being the only venue in the country able to accommodate events for more than 10,000 people," Gilbert said.

On completion of the expansion, the venue would include 32,000m² of covered area on a single level and another 12,000m² of open space. Like the existing ICC, the indoor arena would be flexible to provide 6,000 raked seats for sporting events or uninterrupted exhibition and banquet space.

The arena would integrate with the central business district and surrounding areas, including the adjacent Durban Exhibition Centre and the Hilton Hotel Durban. It would not compromise the centre?s unique ability to be transformed into an island site for high security events.

The arena would also provide the city with an opportunity to participate in major international events such as the 2010 World Cup Soccer and the 2020 Olympic Games.