by Vusi Nkosi, GM: Operations at Gallagher Convention Centre
At Gallagher Convention Centre, we have taken the saying “the show must go on” to heart.
As the venue that prides itself on offering solutions to the challenges that event organisers face, Gallagher Convention Centre has invested in infrastructure to mitigate the current obstacles.
We proudly offer our clients a full generator backup solution on the property. In addition, Gallagher has a million-litre water tank ensuring that our taps don’t run dry.
Where catering is concerned, there is no need to concern yourself as we offer our clients Halaal-certified meals on the property at no surcharge. We even offer off-site special dietary catering solutions through the GCᵌH leg of our company.
We even have the answer to your budget woes as we kept our rate increases for the new financial year as low as possible. In some cases, packages were increased by less than 2%.
It is because we consider the challenges and offer solutions before the obstacles become a problem that we can reassure you that “the show will go on”. You are welcome to get excited about the amazing public events that we have coming up. We look forward to seeing you at events such as the Disney 100 concert, HuntEx 2023 and many more.
From 21 to 23 April 2023, Gallagher Convention Centre will be host to HuntEx2023. Visitors to this annual show can look forward to this showcase with enthusiasm.
GCᵌH by Gallagher Convention Centre has exciting and delicious menu offerings planned for visitors to the show. The menu includes everything from a customised and specially designed “HuntEx burger”, irresistible & cheese-drenched “Bush fries”, and many other hearty offerings.
Playing to chef Werner Blignaut’s strengths, visitors can also indulge in some South African favourites such as Melkkos, Peppermint Crisp tart, Melktert and Roly Poly.
Great news for parents visiting with their children- there will be a children’s area in the Estate restaurant. The Kiddies area will have an inflatable and ball pit for the kid’s entertainment as well as kids-centred food options. Please keep in mind that no children may be left without supervision and that Gallagher Convention Centre does not accept any responsibility for the safety of any child.
Of course, you can look forward to showing off your purchases to your friends while enjoying some refreshments in the Boma.
Let’s recap!
Its almost time for HuntEx2023
Come hungry!
Save space for dessert- Melkkos, Peppermint Crisp tart, Melktert, Roly Poly.
Don’t forget the Boma!
Grab a bite while you supervise your kids having fun in the kid’s area!
“We are back in 2024, aligned to the Formula E and E-Fest again”
The hugely successful Africa’s Green Economy Summit held in February during the E-Fest in Cape Town, culminating in the sold-out Formula E championship race attended by more than 25-thousand people, “created that extra kick-start for the much-needed green invasion that our continent needs” says David Ashdown, CEO of VUKA Group, organisers of the summit in partnership with e-Movement and Bellcrescent Partners.
Ashdown adds: “It was a great success. Besides the various presentations and discussions, we had entrepreneurs pitching projects to investors at our pitch deck lounge, and our concierge match-making service set up in excess of 120 meetings, with one project securing US$2 million in seed funding on the day. That is the excitement of creating a deal-making environment. We’ve created a very robust platform to build from for the future.”
With a jam-packed programme of more than 80 expert speakers, Africa’s Green Economy Summit brought together financiers, project developers, and government representatives, highlighting investment prospects that exist across the continent in the fields of green hydrogen, EVs, energy storage, solar, hydro and wind energy, infrastructure development, urban sustainability as well as manufacturing.
Cape Town and Western Cape proud hosts
As host province of the event during a week that loadshedding continued to cause problems for South African households and businesses alike, the Western Cape government had a strong presence at Africa’s Green Economy Summit, including the Premier Alan Winde, and took every opportunity to explain the steps that the local government was taking to alleviate the effects of the current electricity crisis on consumers and businesses as well as providing opportunities for investment in the local green economy.
“Cape Town was proud to host Africa’s Green Economy Summit,” says the city’s Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. “We’re on a mission to not only make our city the best and easiest place to do business on the continent, but also to position it as the green economy capital of Africa. But building a green economy is about far more than the City’s own energy programme. The opportunities that exist in green hydrogen, energy storage, electric vehicles and a wide range of manufacturing, to name but a few, have the potential to transform our local economy.”
Go Green Africa
Iain Banner, the founder of e-Movement, that brought the Formula E to Africa, was part of the stellar line-up of local, continental and global leaders from the spheres of politics, business and institutions. During the opening session, he announced the launch of Go Green Africa, a collaborative platform to accelerate Africa’s just energy transition.
“No one government, organisation, or individual will ever solve the problem of climate change and environmental damage,” Banner stressed, adding that the South African utility, Eskom, was a founding partner in Go Green Africa and was working with World Bank Funding on one of Africa’s largest battery energy storage projects, highlighting the innovative ways the continent will collaboratively solve its energy access and security problems.
Other headlining speakers included Cape Town’s Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, Western Cape Provincial Minister for Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Anroux Marais, Gautrain Management Agency CEO William Dachs, AfDB DDG Southern Africa Kennedy Mbekeani, EU Ambassador to South Africa H.E. Sandra Kramer, World Bank South Asia Regional Director of Sustainable Development John Roome as well as the African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy H.E. Dr Amani Abou-Zeid, who professed to have been a racing driver in her youth, and impressed and delighted delegates during a keynote with her spirited delivery, sense of humour and depth of knowledge.
Formula E inspiring example
A real-life inspiring and successful example of how a specific vision and years of patient dedication to the development of green technology can create an entirely new industry was reiterated during a session with the organisers and teams in the Formula E racing competition.
“When we started the Formula E 12 years ago, we had no technology,” Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and CCO of Formula E remembered. Longo was involved in the regular (combustion engine) Grand Prix prior to this venture but increasingly found that sponsors wanted to be involved in greener, more sustainable branding activities.
He explained that during the first four years of the Formula E competition, every team needed two cars to finish a race because of the limited range of the batteries. “Now, step by step, the technology is helping us to have faster and sexier cars, and without the technology we would not be here. Twelve years ago, there were two barriers for EVs, price and range of battery. The cars and batteries are still more expensive but we are getting there.”
Other highlights seen and heard at Africa’ Green Economy Summit include:
“As of June, we will increase the rate to R1.12 per KWh for every KWh sold back to city” – Cape Town’s Executive Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis announcing that the city will grant distributed energy providers a revenue increase.
“The Western Cape will be allocating R1.1 billion over the next three years to work towards increasing its energy resilience” – Western Cape Provincial Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities, MEC Mireille Wenger.
“We want to see Namibia become the green hydrogen hub not only of Africa, but of the world” – Michelle McLean-Bailey, Namibian business ambassador and representative and MC on Day 2 of the summit.
“Three words: implement, implement, implement. Let’s not let perfect be the enemy of good” – Mandy Rambharos, formerly of Eskom’s Just Energy Transition Office and currently the Vice-President: Global Climate Cooperation, Environmental Defence Fund in the USA, during a panel discussion on Accelerating Green Investment in Africa.
“Africa has huge potential but we are not delivering on it. Three things give me hope. One is the falling costs of concentrated solar polar. Second, is the combination of technology innovation and business innovation on the continent. And then, what gives me a huge amount of hope, is the large number of small-scale African start-ups.” – South African-born World Bank sustainability expert John Roome.
“At Uber, we’ve seen the light” – Kagiso Khaole, General Manager of Uber Southern Africa announcing that the company will become a zero emissions platform globally by 2040.
“We understand that our customer will become part of the value chain by becoming a producer” – Monde Bala, Eskom Group Executive for Distribution Division on Eskom investing in rural micro grids, and that the deployment of some 100 containerised microgrid pilots for rural areas and informal settings had started in December.
“As an automotive manufacturer, we see Africa as the last frontier. How do we ensure that we create sustainable solutions for mobility in Africa when one considers that by 2025, we’ll have 1.5 billion people?” – Michael Whitfield, Managing Director of Nissan Africa.
“I am not arguing against a shift towards EVs or hydrogen-based fuel technologies, the real challenge lies outside these doors, the congestion on the N1 a few hundred meters away and the N2 a few kilometers away and on countless urban roads in South Africa and in Africa” – William Dachs, CEO of Gautrain Management Agency (GMA).
Green funding
“There are various views around green funding and what it actually means” says Arvana Singh, Head of Sustainable Finance Solutions at Nedbank CIB, “Is it a marketing tool, is it making a credible impact? It is really important to understand that capital flows towards green project and green financing are really important and needed. There is also some transparency around it to ensure that there are reporting mechanisms in place around the use of proceeds.”
She adds: “It is important for Africa to communicate its story effectively around the potential to be an energy powerhouse. It is also important for our credit fundamentals to remain intact, to have a solid policy and governance framework around that as well as the ability to effectively translate investment into tangible outcomes on the ground.”
Africa’s Green Economy Summit was supported by the following key partners: The Western Cape Government, the City of Cape Town, Wesgro, CSIR, Atlantis Special Economic Zone, South African Tourism. The following companies and institutions were event sponsors: Gautrain (platinum), ABB, AfDB, Eskom as well as Nedbank CIB, Nissan and Uber.
The event in numbers
More than 350+ delegates from some 20 countries attended the summit, of whom more than 60 were potential investors and 90 were project developers. The conference sessions provided the insights and discussions of more than 80 high-level speakers and 12 start-up companies and innovators had the opportunity to do project investment pitches in the fields of renewable energy, emobility, manufacturing and infrastructure. For more information on the project pitches, please download the post-event report on the website and check out the session highlights and speaker interviews.
“We are back next year”
“We are going on to bigger and better things” says VUKA Group CEO David Ashdown. “We are back next year, we will be aligned to the Formula E project and the E-Fest series again, there will be an electric vehicle road trip across the country next year, as well connecting to our consumer audience around the E Prix precinct in Green Point.”
The next summit will take place in February 2024, dates to be confirmed.
East Africa’s premier technology, telecommunication, media and broadcasting event will return to Nairobi on 25-26 April after a three-year digital hiatus. Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the event will once again reunite the region’s tech leaders, telecom c-suite executives, promising start-up founders as well as senior regulators and government officials as over 50 industry heavyweights from Safaricom, Telkom Kenya, Kenya’s Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, Djibouti Telecom, Google, Microsoft, Airtel and more take to the event’s stage to impart their wisdom.
As one of the continent’s tech powerhouses where the pace of new technologies adoption such as 5G remains high, East Africa, as it continues its digital transformation journey, offers exciting opportunities which will be analysed in the event’s programme, alongside barriers that need to be overcome to unlock the region’s full tech potential.
East Africa Com will delve into a great variety of highly time-sensitive topics. From exploring topics around the 4IR and how East African can lead in an era of economic disruption to combatting cyber-attacks threats, or the next phase in the region’s fintech revolution and the war for talent, East Africa Com will present a rich and diverse agenda.
“In a sector as dynamic as tech, in a region as diverse as East Africa, we want to showcase and celebrate the incredible pace of innovation as well as the resilience of the region’s tech sector” explains Ciara McDonald Heffernan, Event Director for East Africa Com. “Our ambition is clear:
We are committed to building a programme that will help educate the industry on some of the exciting projects and play a key role in facilitating strong partnerships across the region.”
Some of the sessions attendees can look forward to include a panel uniting East African Operators including Andy Halsall, CEO at poa!, Gerishon Gitonga, Head of Network Planning at Safaricom and Bonface Ndawala, CEO at Malcel discuss novel routes to delivering meaningful connectivity to underserved areas.
Last mile connectivity will be key to unlocking the next stage of East Africa’s Digital transformation and we look forward to having our Opening Keynote, George Njuguna, Director, Information Technology (CIO) at Safaricom share his insights on Vision 2030 and the role of Technology Talent and Digital Skills in Building East Africa’s Digital Economies.
An important aspect of this Digital Transformation has been the evolution of telcos in the region and we will be gathering experts from Djibouti Telecom, Telkom Kenya and TESPOK to analyse the evolution of telcos in the region and the importance of putting digital at the heart of East Africa’s telecommunication strategies.
We will also be welcoming key policymakers at the event, and we are looking forward to hearing from experts from the Deputy Director at Kenya’s Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, Google, Telkom Kenya and Microsoft who will share their insights on how best to regulate the tech sector to spur innovation and combat some of the key barriers to growth.
Overall, the two-day programme will explore the role of technology in driving socio-economic growth by tackling some of the most pressing challenges faced by the region today.
A powerful start-up focused platform
To mirror East Africa’s vibrant start-up scene, the event will host a dedicated one-day platform, AHUB East, to bring the region’s most inspiring startup founders under one roof on 26 April. The agenda will see discussions articulated around key topics such as empowering startups to face investors or how East Africa’s tech startup ecosystem can contribute to the region’s sustainable future. Especially anticipated is the timely fireside chat discussion on the impact of the Silicon Valley Crisis and what lessons Eastern African startups can learn to best future-proof their businesses.
To guide the discussions, AHUB East brings an inspiring mix of entrepreneurs, investors and other experts to take to the stage, including Gibson Kawago, Founder at WAGA Tanzania, John Kamara, Founder at AFAYREKOD, Jay Katatumba, Investor Director at Africa50 or Stephen Ogweno, CEO at Lifesten Health
Beyond knowledge-sharing, AHUB East will also help unlock new business opportunities by fostering connections between founders and investors. It will also see some of the region’s most promising startups battle on stage during a live pitch competition where judges
Laurie Fuller, Venture Partner at Raiven Capital, Dario Giuliani, Founder & Director at Briter Bridges and John Kimani, Developer Ecosystem Program Manager at Google Kenya will put them to the test to crown the winner.
AHUB East’s live pitch competition judge, Laurie Fuller, explains that ““Judging start up pitches is like unearthing hidden gems, each glint revealing the boundless potential of human ingenuity and the promise of a brighter future.”
Celebrating East Africa’s tech pioneers
On the evening of 25 April, the East Africa Com Awards will recognize and celebrate the best and brightest in the region who are driving digital transformation. The seven award categories will put the spotlight on the individuals, organizations, and companies for their commitment and achievements in the digital space. The awards include Inspiring Leader of the Year, Female Innovator of the Year, Fintech Innovation of the Year, Startup of the Year, Connectivity Champion of the Year, Changing Lives Award and Most Innovative Product or Service of the Year.
After receiving close to 100 applications, the shortlisted candidates are now subject to a round of public votes until 14 April that will determine the top three finalists across each category. Their award submissions will then be submitted to a panel of judges before the winners are unveiled during the exclusive awards ceremony.
The event will be a great opportunity to recognize the hard work and dedication of those who are at the forefront of the region’s digital revolution. It is also an opportunity to learn more about successful business models and innovative approaches. The East Africa Com Awards will be a great platform to connect with industry leaders, share experiences, and build relationships that could open new doors for growth and success.
A platform for leaders
Featuring high-level presentations and tailored roundtable discussions, the LeadersIn East Africa Summit taking place on 25 April is a unique opportunity to interact with senior corporate and government leaders to identify tomorrow’s opportunities and challenges.
These interactive, curated, invite-only sessions will explore the current critical issues affecting Africa’s development, with industry leaders, policymakers, regulators, and other ecosystem players working to progress the region’s digital transformation journey. The closed-door roundtables provide a unique forum to build meaningful connections, share experiences and drive valuable outputs and will focus on topics as important as the war on talent, driving gender equality, the role of telcos in driving digital inclusion and responsible leadership.
A programme aimed at educating young people on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the future of work and society, has named its first international winners at World Travel Market (WTM) Africa.
The students of Manenberg Secondary School in Cape Town, South Africa, took home top honours for their project which applied AI to a triple bottom line approach for enhancing sustainability in tourism.
Organised by UK author and Keynote speaker Katie King, this programme follows two successful UK cohorts. The group is the programme’s third winners and the first outside of the UK.
The students of Manenberg Secondary School and Gardens Commercial High School participated in learning sessions delivered by various industry experts designed to educate them on AI and how it will shape their futures. Katie King served as both the programme facilitator and the first guest speaker, sharing some of the insights from her recently published second book, AI Strategy for Sales and Marketing, as well as job outlooks and skills data that will impact the students’ future careers.
This cohort of the programme focused on the travel industry, and Marketing Executive Simone Seekoei of Amadeus delivered a session that highlighted the trends and outlooks in this space.
The students also benefited from a session from Proitroom’s Senior Business Development Manager, Michael Puffett. He explained the importance of the travel tech business as a sector in which to build an exciting career.
After completing their training, the students participated in a competition where they applied AI to real-world problems impacting the travel industry. The competition entries were judged by Katie King and Lord Tim Clement-Jones, Co-Chair of the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence. The two finalist teams presented their ideas in front of a live audience at the World Travel Market Africa event at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 4th April.
The winning team considered how AI could be applied to enhance three different forms of sustainability in the tourism industry: economical, ecological, and cultural/social. Their project examined each of these areas in depth and considered the impacts that technology could have to improve profits, the planet, and the lives of people. The runners up presented an idea for AI-powered humanoid bots who could assist tourists with various tasks, including taking photos and recording videos.
Regarding the winning project, Lord Clement-Jones commented: “I am pleased to have been able to act as judge once again for the Leaders of Tomorrow programme, as the ideas of these young students never cease to amaze. I was very impressed by all of the projects submitted, but the winning project was a real standout for me. A well-rounded AI approach is one that considers impacts not just on profits, but also on humans and the environment. These young people kept that at the idea and managed to come up with applications that were both impressive and feasible. I would certainly love to see some of their ideas come to life someday!”
For Katie King, the completion of this cohort marks the third successful iteration of a programme she dreamed up during the pandemic as a means of supporting the next generation and serving a greater purpose with her work. It also marks the first time the programme was held outside of her home country. She says: “It has been really rewarding to be able to run the Leaders of Tomorrow programme three times now. When the project began in 2020, I had hopes to bring it to other schools around the world someday. To have been able to do it here in South Africa is a real dream come true, and I am very grateful to the team at World Travel Market Africa for making it possible. I continue to be impressed by the students and their fantastic ideas, and these young leaders make me confident that our future is in great hands. I look forward to bringing this programme to more schools and more countries moving forward.”
To learn more about the programme, please visit this page.
LoAnn Halden, the Vice President of Communications at IGLTA (International LGBTQ+ Travel Association), hosted a global panel at World Travel Market Africa (WTM) in Cape Town on Monday, April 3 2023. The Equal Africa panel included speakers from Kenya, South Africa, the USA, and Spain. They addressed the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ+ travellers and discussed how the travel community and professionals could better support them and relook marketing efforts to attract them to their destinations.
The panel’s diversity helped to shed light on the global perspective of these issues, which included the following:
The LGBTQ+ community is diverse
“When you are talking to an LGBTQ+ traveller, you are not talking to one person,” says Halden, and like all travellers, they want to feel safe, appreciated and welcome at a destination,” she said.
Michael Gladwin, founder of Afrigay Travel, further explained the LGBTQ+ community is incredibly diverse, encompassing a wide range of individuals with varying identities, experiences, and backgrounds. It includes people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and many other gender and sexual identities. Each individual has unique experiences and challenges, but they all fall under one umbrella, he said.
“It is important to recognise and celebrate this diversity, as it helps to create a more inclusive and supportive community for all LGBTQ+ individuals,” says Gladwin.
The travel community now has a diversity standard
In a world first, tourism now has a diversity standard accredited by the IGLTA, which promotes inclusivity. The IGLTA Accredited Program assures LGBQT+ travellers that accredited businesses have taken steps to ensure total inclusivity. This independent auditing process is a great next step for companies and provides visitors with a stamp of approval for safe, inclusive spaces. “The accreditation gives travellers the surety that the company they are supporting has really done the deep work to ensure they are fully inclusive,” says Gladwin.
Consider inclusivity for minorities
When marketing to the LGBTQ+ market, social entrepreneur, Mandima Qunta suggests we should “make the circle bigger”. She emphasises the importance of including black women in our marketing efforts, stating, “we are never going to effect change if we only reach out to the same people.” She notes that there is a hierarchy of access within the gay community, which tends to prioritise gay men. “We must look beyond this limited perspective to truly collaborate with the community,” she continued.
According to Qunta, working with a diverse range of individuals, rather than those with a profile or a big social following, will bring fresh perspectives to our campaigns. “Having a voice or an opportunity to collaborate can be challenge for queer black women. They may not have a large online presence but make significant contributions to their communities,” says Qunta, adding that uplifting the LGBTQ+ community, means “taking everyone with you on the journey”.
Safety is an issue but also an opportunity
According to Rodney Otieno, the co-founder of the Queer & Allied Chamber of Commerce Africa (QACC Africa), the past decade has seen progress towards diversity in Africa. However, he believes Uganda’s recent decision to criminalise LGBTQ+ individuals is a step backwards. “Although we’re making cultural advancements, our legal system is regressing,” he explains. When travelling to specific areas in Africa, personal safety is crucial for LGBTQ+ travellers, he said, and tourism professionals have an important role to make them feel welcome, comfortable and safe. “It’s important to ensure that your policies are inclusive and that your staff receive proper diversity training to assist with this,” says Otieno.
He continues that for those African countries that have inclusive policies this is an opportunity to promote their country as a safe and comfortable place for LGBTQ+ travellers.
Pronouns matter!
It’s the small changes that we make that can have the biggest impact, said Qunta. “Pronouns matter because they are a form of welcome. When someone asks my pronoun it feels like they are trying to get to know me, and it’s showing some form of respect. The language that we use can be an important part of making a traveller feel safe in a space,” she said.
She also highlighted that a very positive starting point for those addressing transformation is to introduce gender neutral bathrooms.
Adventure tourism presents a significant opportunity for the tourism industry in Southern Africa and Africa, as highlighted by a panel discussion at WTM Africa on 03 April in the host City of Cape Town. The discussion brought together industry experts Julia Louw, Head of Leisure Tourism for the DMO unit Wesgro; Hannelie Du Toit, Chief Operating Officer SATSA; Andre Du Toit, Executive Head of New Business Development for the first Equity Insurance Group and Director at SATIB Insurance Brokers; and Quintin Smith, Founder of Bikes ‘n Wines, to discuss the potential for adventure tourism and the challenges facing the industry.
During the panel discussion, SATSA announced the release of its Adventure Tourism Self-Regulation Roadmap and Code of Good Practice documents for public comment. The draft Self-Regulation documents were developed in consultation with industry stakeholders and aim to provide a framework for adventure tourism operators to operate in a responsible and sustainable manner while promoting growth and development in the adventure tourism industry.
“We believe that the Adventure Tourism Self-Regulation documents will provide a clear framework for operators to follow, resulting in the raising of standards and producing credible products with which we can position Southern Africa as a top adventure destination,” said du Toit.
Africa is already recognised as a leading destination for thrill-seekers, and experts at the panel discussion predicted this trend will continue. The Southern African region offers numerous opportunities for adventure activities across the tourism value chain from big operators to the smaller SMMEs.
One untapped opportunity is sustainable cruise travel. This form of travel offers a unique and eco-friendly way to explore the continent’s diverse landscapes and cultures. With smaller cruise ships venturing into lesser-known towns, the concept of explorer cruising has gained momentum. This approach not only ensures that the cruise itself is environmentally responsible, but also supports local communities and economies by visiting smaller towns and promoting cultural exchange.
As adventure tourism continues to grow, new products and experiences will be created to transform the travel landscape, according to the panellists. This is already evident in rural areas where cultural activities are now included in tour itineraries, bringing new opportunities to those who live there.
Africa’s adventure tourism industry is poised for growth, with opportunities for innovation, job creation, and sustainable tourism products. The continent’s natural environments, wildlife habitats, and local communities must be protected through cooperation between governments and tour operators to ensure the sector’s continued success.
WTM Africa 2023, the leading travel and tourism event in Africa, has officially opened its doors on 03 April 2023.
The show is back to pre-pandemic numbers with over 5,000 registrations, almost 600 exhibitors, 49 new countries, 200 expert speakers and over 80 hours of content sessions. The event also has 9,200 pre-scheduled appointments, a 35% increase compared to last year. Over 63% of the buyers this year are new and come from exciting markets such as Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand, Philippines, Romania, Armenia, San Marino and Uzbekistan.
Opening the show, Patricia De Lille, Minister of Tourism, expressed her excitement about the tourism industry’s recovery, saying, “We are all ready to come back with a bang. And we’ve already started coming back.” She stressed that the tourism sector has a major role to play in South Africa and said: “I can feel the opportunity in tourism. In my new role, I will focus on implementation, as it is time for us to now walk the talk.”
Eddie Andrews, Deputy Mayor of Cape Town, emphasized the importance of tourism for the Host City of Cape Town, saying, ” We believe in the possibility of Africa. As tourism is an economic driver for Cape Town, we are building a city of hope. Our aim is to create a tourism-related job in every single household. People want to hear stories, and Africa has many stories to tell.”
Carol Weaving, Managing Director of RX Africa, highlighted the statistics when she said: “WTM starts today. We have 577 exhibitors, 9,200 pre-scheduled appointments. We are back and ready to do business. Sixty-six per cent of buyers are brand new from new markets like Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Pakistan, Romania and Bangladesh. The repeat buyers are from our key source markets.”
Mark Sham, founder of Suits & Sneakers and a speaker at WTM Africa 2023, urged attendees to have fun, go up to each other and truly connect. He said: “We’re back! I will never forget when we couldn’t connect and will never take it for granted again. In Africa, we sit on the most amazing potential.”
Alongside the opportunity to meet and network, a highlight for many of the international, regional and local buyers includes the release of WTM Africa’s annual Trends Report, which takes a closer look at the biggest trends shaping travel in Africa today. With WTM Africa returning to pre-pandemic numbers and exceeding them, the event serves as a beacon of hope for the tourism industry in Africa, and its impact on the economy is immeasurable.
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