WTM Africa Tourism Investors’ Summit to launch in 2019

Following on the success of the WTM Africa Tourism Investors’ Forum in 2018, WTM Africa has announced that it will expand on this successful initiative dedicated to highlighting investment potential and opportunities on the continent. The WTM Africa Tourism Investors’ Summit will span 11 and 12 April 2019, an expansion on what was just a single 45-minute slot on the programme in 2018 Carol Weaving, Managing Director at Reed Exhibitions, explains that through the years WTM Africa has recognised the need to host the WTM Africa Tourism Investors’ Summit. This initiative will allow potential investors to scope projects and opportunities across the continent, while also meeting with key stakeholders they can partner with to move ahead. “We are expecting a number of high-profile tourism representatives, from a number of countries in Africa, to attend this highly engaging summit. We will provide them with an opportunity to meet with a number of local and international investors in search of investment opportunities in the travel and tourism sector in various countries in Africa,” Weaving furthers. Taking place over two days, the WTM Africa Tourism Investors’ Summit will host keynote speakers from around the globe who will contribute their learnings, expertise, and unpack various investment opportunities Africa has to offer, not just in the travel and tourism sector, but also in lateral sectors that contribute to the industry. “At a time when Africa is celebrating a new open skies policy and the African Union heads of state have launched a continent-wide free trade agreement, travel and tourism in Africa are poised to expand, accelerate and flourish in an unprecedented manner. However, to support this growth, there will be a need for significant investment in human resources, infrastructure, ICT, equipment, security, logistics, marketing capacity and more – to ensure that those travelling on the continent have the best experiences possible,” explains Michael Sudarkasa, CEO of Africa Business Group, and Co-Convener of the Africa Tourism Investment Summit. The summit will focus on plenary discussions that will cover trends in investment, the variety of investment opportunities available in Africa, policy and case studies. In addition, it will encourage participation in breakaway sessions designed to open dialogue between public and private sector participants, forming practical solutions for investment. The inaugural WTM Africa Tourism Investors’ Summit will take place on 11 and 12 April 2019.