Report

WTM Africa 2019 promises a promising experience

By Sikha Thakur

Influencing global travel and tourism industry, WTM Africa will go on floor from April 10 to 12, 2019. The program and conferences are taking shape offering insights to stakeholders, network sessions, panel discussions and workshops.

Annual Responsible Tourism conference will be headed by Dr Harold Goodwin, Professor and Director, Responsible Tourism at the institute of Place Management at Manchester Metropolitan University. He holds the experience of working with local communities of four continents and their governments.

The three day session will start on April 10, with a half-day Business Events Conference in partnership with IBTM Africa by SAACI CEO Rudi van der Vyver. Variety of contest sessions will be hosted by Inspire Theatre on tourism industry making WTM Africa 2019 a whole new experience for tour and travel industry. Gender empowerment, tour and travel, entrepreneurship are the focal points for all.

On April 11, Sports and Events Tourism Exchange (SETE) will play a full day event at the Inspire Theatre. Sporting and other events play significant ROI for tourism economy to be explained by John Robbie, former Ireland International rugby player and Talk Radio 702 presenter. Travel Forward Forum will feature a full day event with eTourism Frontiers on April 12. ‘More and more tourism lovers are expected,’ travel forecasts for WTM Africa 2019, help make it a memorable and never forgetting experience.

WTM Africa 2018 welcomed 5880 travel trade professionals in Cape Town from April 10 to 12 making it a global market place for the travel industry. Wide range of products was showcased by the exhibitors of Sub Saharan African. Latest travel technologies were discussed by the experts on business travel. WTM Africa 2018 also created around 300000 jobs in tourism sector during its peak season.

WTM Africa 2017 witnessed record breaking business worth of US$ 365-million in comparison to more than last five years. It encouraged the exhibitors, accommodation providers and tour operators for next forthcoming few years. A survey done by Booking.com shows that among all the 1000 respondents who visited in WTM Africa 2016 had planned to visit again in 2017 and the number keeps on increasing every year.

WTM Africa focuses also on sustainable tourism as the consumers are going for greener and fairer holidays. Around 68 per cent of all the travelers visiting WTM select eco-friendly accommodation over luxury stay. World Travel Market is not only promoting travel and tourism industry but also protects nature, thereby encouraging sustainable tourism.

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