Experience Africa Events, the events division of the African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA), has celebrated its most impactful presence yet at this year’s Africa's Travel Indaba (ATI), held in Durban this month.
Marking ATTA’s 26th consecutive year of participation, this year's event saw the association's largest-ever delegation, reaffirming its 30-year commitment to connecting African tourism suppliers with buyers from around the world and driving growth in the African tourism sector.
The annual landmark event on the African tourism calendar saw ATTA hosting 69 exhibitor desks and numerous special areas, fostering business opportunities and connections.
ATTA's presence at this year's ATI was marked by the participation of prominent exhibitors such as Lemala Camps and Lodges, More Family Collection, EcoTraining, and &Beyond.
Partnerships with Painted Wolf Wines, Under the Influence, Bean There Coffee, and Travel Africa Magazine further enhanced the networking and business development opportunities at the event.
Over 165 badges were collected for the ATTA stand, reflecting the high level of engagement and interest from buyers and industry stakeholders.
Chris Mears, CEO of Experience Africa Events, said: “We’ve come a long way since our very first presence at Indaba in 1998. At the time, we had only one ATTA exhibitor. Over the years, our presence grew to the extent that we claimed our own space featuring members in a dedicated space between the DEC and ICC for many years.
“As ATI flourished, so too has our presence at this key event, culminating in our strategy over the past years to provide a space that buyers and exhibitors can truly connect in the heart of all the action.”
Sarah Leah Njanji, Vice Consul-Tourism at the Malawi Consulate General and partner of ATTA’s annual Indaba Networking Event, added: "The exhibitors at the Malawi stand got very good business leads through engagements with quality buyers. Partnering with ATTA for the networking event provided massive networking and business opportunities for us."
Events in London and Nairobi
Building on the momentum from ATI, Experience Africa Events is already preparing for its upcoming shows in 2024.
The highly anticipated Experience Africa 2024 will take place in a new central London venue, 155 Bishopsgate, from July 1-3.
This premier B2B event will unite Africa's top suppliers with active buyers from the UK and Europe, showcasing a range of travel products and curated experiences across the continent with up to 42 pre-scheduled appointments available.
In addition, Experience Africa Events is set to co-host, with On Show Solutions, Essence of Africa from December 2-4 at the Sarit Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.
This meetings-driven event aims to connect international buyers with leading African tourism suppliers through curated meetings and pre-scheduled appointments, offering a platform for meaningful connections and sustainable growth within the African tourism sector.
"Our participation at Indaba underscores our commitment to fostering strong industry connections and promoting African tourism on a global scale. We are delighted to build on this success with our upcoming shows in London and Nairobi, providing unparalleled platforms for showcasing the best of Africa's travel offerings," Mears concluded.
