Africa Travel Week 2021 has wrapped up its first virtual trade show and content programme with over 5,000 successful 1-on-1 meetings, 4,000 views of content sessions and over 4,300 minutes of speed networking.

Held from 7 to 9 April, the virtual event included headline shows, World Travel Market Africa (WTM Africa) and International Luxury Travel Market Africa (ILTM Africa), where buyers and tourism destinations and products connected online to reignite tourism to the continent.

A content programme also featured over 40 panel discussions and presentations by 170 international and Africa speakers on tourism-related trends in Africa and beyond, from LGBTQ+ travel and responsible tourism to business tourism and travel technology.

“The feedback received from buyers, travel trade visitors, exhibitors and panellists has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Megan Oberholzer, Reed Exhibitions South Africa Portfolio Director: Travel, Tourism & Sports.

“Recognising that face-to-face meetings remain important, but balancing this with the need for our industry to connect at this time, we took a blended approach starting with a virtual event in April and live meetings later on in the year,” says Oberholzer. 

“The organisation and format are great,” said Christophe Bazille, Managing Director at Hospitality Web Services attending the show. “It´s not replacing the face-to-face meetings happening during the travel fairs, but it´s great to connect again and see the positiveness of all the people we can e-meet. Tourism in Africa will definitely be back soon with such spirit and amazing destinations.”

Said LoAnn Holden, VP Communications International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA): “Thank you for always supporting IGLTA and celebrating partnership and collaboration! We are proud to be part of this program and to promote welcoming Africa travel for all.” 

“I want to say a profound thank you for showcasing Seeza SMEs. They are so excited about the engagements they are having with buyers. We are receiving phenomenal feedback from them,” said Septi Bukula, SEEZA Tourism SME Network.

“Further, the insights that the international panelists and presenters shared with delegates provided a captivating lens on the challenges our industry faces during COVID, but more than this the opportunities that exist for tourism within the constraints,” says Martin Hiller, ‎Reed Exhibitions – South Africa Creative & Content Director: Travel, Tourism & Creative Industries.

Topics of interest shared during the event included:

• What does the future hold for group travel?
• Exclusive-Use Travel – the real deal or hype?
• The changing landscape of Africa’s source markets
• The New Normal: Where to go from the pandemic?
• Domestic tourism to the rescue
• Can Gen Z save the travel industry?

Enjoy a sneak preview of some of the presentations and panel discussions that will be available:

• The Future of Business Events: 2021 & Beyond
• Air Transport – the key to Africa’s tourism recovery
• The Opportunity of Domestic Travel

All the content sessions will be available on Africa Travel Week’s virtual portal until 9 May with selected sessions available from mid-May on ATW Connect. To access ATW Virtual, register here: https://atwconnect.com/register2021/

Later in the year, Africa Travel Week will host Connect in the City Live, exclusive to ATW virtual exhibitors and a selection of hosted buyers, and comprising:  

• Familiarisation tours. ATW Virtual exhibitors will benefit from the opportunity to invite international buyers to experience their products first hand.
• During this time, exhibitors will be given an opportunity to educate buyers about their products and destination during a dedicated 15-minute time slot.
• A dedicated travel and tourism conference with a top-notch speaker programme of industry thought leaders and experts.  
• Our ever-popular speed networking sessions where buyers are split according to region and product interests.  
• The African Travel & Tourism Awards, with a special category recognising COVID-19 campaigns that focus on reigniting travel.  

Attendees and industry professionals may also remain connected and informed throughout 2021 via atwconnect.com, ATW’s dedicated resource hub jam-packed with free digital tools, industry news and updates.