The Cape Town International Convention Centre is buzzing as the Reed Exhibitions team and exhibitors from across the globe complete their final preparations for World Travel Market Africa 2019, which kicks off tomorrow in the Mother City. Come 10h00 on Wednesday 10 April, business wear will replace hard hats & gloves and the doors to the continent’s biggest inbound and outbound B2B travel trade show will swing open to welcome thousands of Buyers, Media and VIP guests.
#WTMA19 kicks off with a Press Conference – open to all attendees – where key industry leaders will address the pertinent points currently affecting travel and tourism on the African continent. Panelists include City of Cape Town Mayor, Dan Plato; Special Advisor to the Tourism Minister, Gillian Saunders; Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) CEO, David Frost; Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA) CEO, Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa and Ghana Tourism Development Company CEO, Kwadwo Antwi, who will be available for Q&A after the session. Carol Weaving, Manging Director of Reed Exhibitions South Africa will then close the session, highlighting ‘What to Expect from #WTMA19’.
On the agenda for the three days are various content sessions, pre-scheduled meetings, after-hours networking events, experiences, activations, Festivals and debates which will encompass the full spectrum topics of utmost relevance to the travel and tourism industries not just in Africa, but around the world. The continent is responsible for 5% of global tourism numbers and just 3% of global tourism receipts – and #WTMA19 is setting out to aid growth of those numbers, while focussing on sustainability, responsibility and ethical practices, and showcasing the mesmerising beauty of Africa and all she has to offer.
Carol Weaving, Managing Director of Reed Exhibitions South Africa, says that Africa is primed for a tourism explosion. “The continent’s leaders are seeing the light in terms of relaxing visa laws, opening our airspace and improving trade relations between not just countries, but entire regions,” she says. “WTM Africa 2019 is going to see thousands of eager guests harnessing each and every opportunity to drive growth in the African travel & tourism market, and we’re expecting some great news to emerge from this year’s market”.
Registration to attend WTM Africa 2019 is still open online today, thereafter onsite registration will be possible, at an additional fee.
