The WTM Africa is a part of Africa Travel Week, which is taking place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from Wednesday, 15 to Friday, 17 April.
The 10 entrepreneurs were chosen according to set criteria and will be able to engage with international buyers and trade visitors at the City of Cape Town stand in the exhibition area. Among others, they had to be Cape Town-based, have been in operations for five years but not more than 10 years, and had to motivate why they believed their business should be showcased at the event.
“The exposure for these local tourism businesses will be invaluable. WTM Africa affords them the opportunity to meet potential distributors and buyers, test market interest, evaluate the competition, identify strategic partners and position themselves globally. Our small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) will gain access to registered buyers; these are potential customers who are key decision-makers in the travel industry,” said the City’s acting Mayoral Committee Member for Tourism, Events and Economic Development, Councillor Xanthea Limberg.
The local tourism enterprises selected to be represented at WTM Africa are:
- Nonkululeko Charters
- Daddy's World (accommodation)
- 33 South Backpacker
- Khayelitsha Travel
- Stobers Shuttle and Tours
- Sesfikile Wines
- Kingdom Tours & Transfers
- Mzansi Restaurant
- Enchanted Guest House
- Bikes and Wine (tour guides)
“Through Africa Travel Week, our local tourism SMMEs are able to establish relationships with tourism industry experts from across Africa and the world. The tourism industry is one of the most lucrative sectors, creating 37 500 full-time and 15 100 part-time jobs. We need to ensure that these jobs are sustained and facilitate the creation of further jobs in the sector by making these opportunities available to our entrepreneurs. By increasing international trade, SMMEs are able to become sustainable and effectively contribute to the local economy,” said Councillor Limberg.
Africa Travel Week is the continent’s largest international travel industry event. The show attracts approximately 500 international tourism industry buyers, 4500 trade visitors, 220 members of the media and 1700 exhibiting personnel from across Africa and the world. The 2015 event comprises the 11th International Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations and three co-located World Travel Market shows, (World Travel Market Africa; the International Luxury Travel Market Africa (ILTMA), and the Incentives, Business Travel and Meetings Africa (IBTMA)).