WTM Africa 2024: Voices from the trade floor on opening day
This year’s World Travel Market (WTM) Africa got underway at the Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa.
As has been the convention in successive events, the opening day was characterized by a beehive of activities as both exhibitors and buyers from all over the world converge at the continent’s biggest tourism marketplace.
From VoyagesAfriq’s interactions with some of the exhibitors, day one has already proven pivotal in their quest to woo potential visitors to the respective destinations they are promoting and selling.
“We’ve had very good meetings. I have had meetings from China, I have had meetings with some of the biggest tour operators from around the world who want to sell packages to the entire retail sector globally. I have already had meetings with partners and potential partners in the MICE space. I have also had quite a number of global media interviews; travel media interviews and we are happy that we are off to a good start” – Keitumetse Setlang, Acting CEO of Botswana Tourism Orgainsation.
“This is our first time exhibiting and it is really great and amazing show, and we are here because we want to showcase Zimbabwe which is a beautiful country, and we’d love for each and everyone to come to Zimbabwe” – Ratidzo Gumbo
“It is the first time I am attending WTM Africa, but I have done shows all over the world and in different corners of the world. The particularity of WTM Africa is, it allows me to be able to link up with the partners from the main continent, get the best of how business is conducted here and have the opportunity to widen my network as far as our African trade is concerned. -Bernadette Willemin, Director General of Destination Marketing, Tourism Seychelles.
But as you can imagine as well, it’s not just only about the African trade professionals, but it also allows me to be able to reach out to other potential areas, especially the American continent. Throughout the day, we managed to hold discussions with different partners from different continent” Mrs Willemin added.
