Africa Tourism Leadership Forum goes Hybrid in Rwanda
The third edition of the pan-African travel showcase, Africa Tourism Leadership Forum (ATLF) is set to take off in Kigali, Rwanda this October. The pan-African tourism leadership event had to postpone the event from the initial July 2020 to 19-21 October 2020 as result of the coronavirus pandemic.
ATLF is a Pan-African dialogue platform. It brings together key stakeholders of Africa’s travel, tourism, hospitality and aviation sectors to network, share insights, and devise strategies for intra-Africa travel and tourism growth across the continent, whilst enhancing the brand equity of Africa. The theme for this year’s gathering is ‘Shaping a better future for intra-Africa travel together.’ The theme couldn’t have been any better than this as we begin the restart to Tourism and Intra africa travel will be essential in the continent’s quest to accelerated recovery.
Other focus areas identified for deliberations are Thought Leadership, travel technology and innovation; rural tourism development; start-ups; youth in tourism; and tourism investment funding. The youth demographic that participated in the 2019 Durban event shows that it has become a platform for African youth in tourism and start-ups to unleash their full potential. The Forum has also become a main driver behind the call-to-action for increased modernising of visa policies, and increasing air access for the greater benefit of ‘Destination Africa’.
The organisers have ensured that the health and safety protocols are being adhered to and encourage the wearing of mask and observe physical distance at the venue (in person). Technology is seen as the drive towards the new normal post pandemic. It has expanded access for the MICE sector and ATLF will look to maximize the use of digital tools for this event.
The Forum is expected to bring together industry leaders from across Africa and beyond. Building on its remarkable success in the past three years, the Forum aims to boost the efforts of industry leaders in transforming intra-Africa travel. This is in accordance with the outcomes of ATLF Accra, Ghana and Durban, South Africa in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Organised by Africa Tourism Partners, in partnership with BDO South Africa, Rwanda Convention Bureau, ATLF and Awards is the largest Africa travel and tourism thought leadership, multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary, and collaborative platform that looks at accelerating the continent’s tourism growth by setting realistic goals that are attainable and actionable.
