World Travel Market - Africa wraps up

- Africa wraps up World Travel Market Africa 2019 Reed Exhibitions, announced that wrapped up on, Friday 12 April, 2019 WTM Africa 2020 will host a dedicated with new connections, continenttwo-day Travel Forward event. During building deals and a sense of Waganda’s opening presentation, he excitement about where African travel discussed ways to cut through digital & tourism is heading to in the future. messaging clutter, citing the example Once again, WTM Africa 2019 was in influencing the quality of content privileged to partner with the City they consume is seeing a shift away of Cape Town as Host City. The from long-term tie-ins with celebrity continued support of the City is a key influencers and an inclination towards factor in the success of the show, and working with micro-influencers, the involvement of the City of Cape because of the way they attract Town is testament to the importance genuine engagement. of WTM Africa within the tourism of how consumers’ increasing role landscape. Deputy Director General; Economic Operations, Western Cape The final day of WTM Africa 2019 Government, Rashid Toefy, moderated focused on digital trends and a panel discussion at the inaugural technology in tourism with Travel African Tourism Investment Summit Forward. The E-Tourism Africa Seminar on Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in (eTAS) was facilitated by E-Tourism Tourism Infrastructure Development. Frontiers Digital Business Leader It featured AfriCatalysts CEO Dumi Mavin Waganda. Launched in London Jere; Chairman and Founder of Mantis in November 2018, Travel Forward Group, Adrian Gardner; National focuses on future-proofing travel Basketball Association Africa Vicebusinesses in the digital age, helping President and MD Amadou Fall and ensure relevance and improving of SANParks CEO Fundisile Mketeni. revenue-generating opportunities. Gardner stressed the importance of Megan Oberholzer, Travel Tourism & including local communities in the Sports Portfolio General Manager at PPP space, to help upskill them and

Carol Weaving MD, Reed Exhibitions

boost micro-economies. “If we don’t involve communities going forward, the future of the wildlife space in Africa is in trouble,” he said.

Oberholzer said that the team already has its eye on WTM Africa 2020, with next year’s event expected to take place in Cape Town from 6-8 April. “After an amazing three days at #WTMA19, the planning starts all over again to make #WTMA20 even more phenomenal and relevant to industry needs. Keep an eye on our website for details of next year’s event,” she concluded.