WTM Africa is the continent’s only business-to-business travel and tourism show that unites the entire African travel ecosystem under one roof. The 2024 edition will be staged as a fully in-person event at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 10 to 12 April, welcoming ministers, destination marketers, tour operators, travel agents, airlines, hoteliers, tech providers and investors who want to accelerate inbound, outbound and intra-Africa travel. More than 6,000 pre-qualified buyers from 80 countries are expected to meet 500 exhibitors from 55 African nations and 20 overseas source markets in pre-scheduled appointments, speed-networking sessions and on the show floor. A high-level conference running alongside the exhibition is built around the central theme “Unlocking African Tourism through Collaboration, Investment and Sustainability”. Day one interrogates how public-private partnerships can finance infrastructure, visa facilitation and connectivity; day two focuses on product diversification through community tourism, luxury safaris and business events; and day three explores climate-smart practices, carbon accounting and community benefit-sharing. Confirmed speakers include South African Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille, UNWTO Regional Director for Africa Elcia Grandcourt, Kenya Tourism Board CEO June Chepkemei, Ethiopian Airlines VP International Services Esayas WoldeMariam, G Adventures founder Bruce Poon Tip, Serena Hotels MD for East Africa Mahmoud Elnawawy and representatives from the World Bank, Airbnb, Mastercard and the Global Sustainable Tourism Council. A new “Tech Start-up Pitch Hub” gives 30 young African entrepreneurs three minutes each to present solutions for payments, dynamic packaging and AI-driven personalization to a jury of venture capitalists, while the “Women in Travel Meet-up” provides mentorship and grants for female-owned businesses. The popular “Responsible Tourism Awards Africa” returns to recognise lodges, tour operators and conservation NGOs that deliver measurable social and environmental impact. Entry to the exhibition is free for trade visitors who register online before 31 March; the conference pass grants access to all keynotes, panel discussions, networking lunches and the gala awards dinner. Shuttle buses connect official hotels to the venue every 30 minutes and complimentary city tours are offered to international buyers to experience Cape Town’s new experiences, from solar-powered e-bikes in the W