WTM Africa has announced a new content format for its upcoming event in just over a week.
The reimagined programme introduces a series of theme-based mini conferences designed to tackle the tourism industry’s most pressing challenges when leaders gather in Cape Town from April 9-11.
“African tourism faces complex challenges that can’t be addressed in isolated conversations,” said Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director for the event’s producer RX Africa. “By clustering related sessions, we’re creating spaces where solutions can emerge.”
Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis added: “This restructured approach will give tourism professionals the context they need to truly understand complex challenges. Tourism has the power to drive economic transformation and these focused discussions will certainly help inform the future of the industry.”
WTM Africa 2025 will feature over 100 experts participating in the programme. The event will span three stages plus an interactive Brain Box for hands-on workshops and the innovative Super Reality Dome for selected sessions.
The flagship Africa Tourism Investment Conference on April 10 will anchor the event’s economic development focus, bringing financial institutions, developers and government officials together for a full day of structured dialogue. JLL CEO: Africa Wayne Godwin will moderate discussions, examining what investors seek from African tourism projects, with Warrick Haskell, Principal of Corporate Finance at Nedbank CIB, Ken Ogwang, Senior Dealmaker for the Industrial Development Corporation, and safari industry leaders.
“Growing African tourism requires targeted capital – this summit directly connects projects with potential funders,” said De Jager. “We expect real business conversations to happen here.”
Aviation Focus on April 10 will confront the continent’s persistent connectivity challenges with Airlines Association of Southern Africa CEO Aaron Munetsi and FlySafair’s Chief Marketing Officer Kirby Gordon tackling pricing barriers and visa restrictions.
The Media and Narrative mini conference on April 9 will examine how perception shapes destination success, featuring the “Can African Destinations Thrive When Headlines = Headwinds?” panel discussion with Wesgro’s Chief Tourism Officer Monika Iuel and international journalist Omololu Olumuyiwa. This will be followed by the Africa Travel Week Media Awards recognising the best African journalists.
The Responsible Tourism programme over two half days, under the guidance of global expert Dr Harold Goodwin, will culminate in the WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards on April 10. Sessions will address climate adaptation, greenwashing prevention and nature-positive tourism models with Grootbos Private Nature Reserve Founder Michael Lutzeyer.
Under the Inclusivity & Diversity theme, the event will feature “Unhide & Seek: Building Inclusion and Belonging in Travel” by Ruth Rathblott – an inspiring TEDx speaker, bestselling author and award-winning former CEO – alongside practical workshops on creating sensory-friendly African experiences and capitalising on diversity markets.
The State of the Industry panel on April 11 will be moderated by Skift Advisory with a data-driven discussion, on African tourism’s current position and future trajectory, led by Michelle Gounden, Director: Insights for Skift Advisory. The session will leverage comprehensive research from Euromonitor International with key findings on market trends, consumer behaviour and growth projections that will shape destination strategies in the coming years presented by Christy Tawii, Research Manager: Travel and Tourism (Middle East and Africa) for Euromonitor International.
Wine Tourism on April 11 will examine the sector’s evolution and business potential with experts including Creation Wines Co-Founder Carolyn Martin and Steyn Fullard representing Weltevrede Wine Estate. The special Wine Activation area will include tastings.
Click here to view programme details.
