WTM Africa announces event programme

WTM Africa's own World Responsible Tourism Programme (WRTP) will form a key component of the education sessions taking place over the two days of the show. The WRTP will be brought together by industry leader and organiser of the World Travel Market WRTP in London, Professor Harold Goodwin. With a pan-African cast of speakers, Professor Goodwin will compile a series of seminars, addressing core responsible tourism issues, that will offer visitors to WTM Africa the chance to debate, discuss and learn about the latest sustainable tourism initiatives and thinking affecting the African continent.

The African Business Travel Association (ABTA), the only member-led business travel association with a focus on corporate travel in South Africa and the African continent, has also joined WTM Africa as an official education partner. ABTA will be facilitating and presenting sessions covering a broad range of key trends, developments, challenges and opportunities from South Africa and the continent as well as how these destinations can revolutionise the business travel industry on Friday, 2 May.

Saturday, 3 May will see a dedicated session focusing on issues surrounding education within the African travel industry. The session has been organised by local expert Kamilla Swart, Associate Professor from the Department of Tourism and Events Management at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology. Swart brings with her an abundance of knowledge from the industry and region with a particular focus on sports and events tourism.

"I am proud to be associated with World Travel Market Africa as it will provide an ideal platform to discuss and debate issues concerning challenges in tourism education on the continent and pave the way for greater collaboration and partnership to capitalise on the continent's booming tourism industry" explains Swart.

WTM Africa has similarly joined forces with Director of Travel Bloggers Unite, Oliver Gradwell, to bring a dedicated travel blogger programme, featuring some of the most influential travel bloggers in Africa offering guidance on how the industry can best utilise this vital marketing resource.

"Travel Bloggers Unite are delighted to be partnering with WTM Africa for their inaugural show in Cape Town" comments Gradwell. "The best practice guidance and insight we offer will give visitors to WTM Africa a competitive edge when working with travel bloggers in the future."

The latest trends in travel technology and the challenges faced within the airline industry will also take centre stage, with leading industry lights providing discussion and insights on these important travel industry issues, as will South Africa's first WTM Vision Conference - WTM Vision - Cape Town, organised by sister event World Travel Market in London. WTM Vision - Cape Town will offer travel executives the chance to hear the latest research on regional-specific trends and insights into what the future for those sectors might be.

WTM Africa Event Manager Polly Magraw said, "Our intention with the WTM Africa event programme is to appeal to a broad spectrum of travel professionals in order to ensure that everyone attending the show can find something of interest. The diverse programme will offer our visitors the best insight into the industry and focus on the exciting future prospects for this emerging region."

World Travel Market Africa is part Africa Travel Week, which also includes IBTM Africa and ILTM Africa at The Cape Town International Convention Centre from 28 April- 3 May 2014.

For more, go to www.africatravelweek.com