WTM Africa 2023 opened its doors at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 03 April 2023 to welcome over 5 000 registered visitors. They will have access to 577 exhibitors from 49 new countries, 200 expert speakers and over 80 hours of content sessions across the three-day African travel and tourism trade show.
Nearly two thirds (63%) of this yearβs buyers are new to the show, strongly representing markets such as Malaysia, Pakistan, Thailand, Philippines, Romania, Armenia, San Marino and Uzbekistan, while the repeat buyers represent key source markets. Additionally, 9 200 appointments have been prescheduled, which is a 35% increase from last yearβs event.
Back with a bang
Patricia De Lille, Minister of Tourism, opened the show and expressed her excitement about the tourism industry’s recovery, saying, “We are all ready to come back with a bang. And weβve already started coming back. 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.β
“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.β
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.”
WTM Africaβs annual Trends Report
Alongside the opportunity to meet and network, a highlight for many of the international, regional and local buyers includes the release of WTM Africaβs annual Trends Report, which takes a closer look at the biggest trends shaping travel in Africa today.
RELATED: Global panel addresses how to appeal to LGBTQ+ travellers
