AfCFTA Partners with Africa Tourism Partners to Launch the Forum on Tourism, Creatives, and Cultural Industries at ATLF 2023 in Gaborone, Botswana

Botswana is set to host the inaugural AfCFTA Forum on Tourism, Creatives, and Cultural Industries during the Africa Tourism Leadership Forum & Awards from October 4th to 6th, 2023, at the Gaborone International Conference Centre. This pioneering event marks a significant step toward the integration of creative industries with tourism, ultimately aiming to boost intra-Africa travel.

The AfCFTA Secretariat has joined forces with Africa Tourism Partners (ATP) to organize the Forum on Tourism, Creatives, and Cultural Industries. This partnership brings together key Pan-African and intra-Africa travel and tourism stakeholders with the goal of harnessing the value of the continent’s creative and cultural assets to stimulate demand for intra-Africa travel. Moreover, this event will serve as the launchpad for the newly established Africa Tourism Private Sector Alliance (ATPSA), an apex body for Africa’s travel and tourism private sector, aiming to leverage opportunities within the AfCFTA framework.

The theme of this year’s Africa Tourism Leadership Forum & Awards is “Shifting Demand Dynamics to Shape the Future of Intra-Africa Travel.” The event will offer unique networking opportunities, business prospects, and educational programs encompassing intra-Africa travel, franchising, creative industries, culture, tourism investment, MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Events), digitalization, and more. Distinguished global experts, ministers, CEOs, business executives, policy-makers, entrepreneurs, academics, researchers, practitioners, and destination management companies (DMCs) will lead these discussions.

From October 3rd, 2023, the event will kick off with high-level B2B sessions, a Tourism Entrepreneurship Masterclass, an Intra-Africa Travel & Tourism Road Show & Exhibition, and destination showcases and presentations from participating African Member States promoting their destinations to a global audience.

The 6th Annual African Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards will bring together over 500 physical delegates, including media representatives and hosted buyers from around the world, at the Gaborone International Convention Centre, Grand Palm, Botswana.

Register Now!

Individuals and organizations involved in the tourism industry, including hotels, lodges, guesthouses, B&Bs, DMCs, restaurants, tour operators, travel agents, online travel agents, marketing agencies, national tourism organizations (NTOs), destination management organizations (DMOs), associations, women’s associations, youth associations, entrepreneurs, and all key industry stakeholders, are encouraged to participate.

Registration for physical attendance, one-on-one B2B sessions, desktop exhibitions, and destination showcases is currently open. To register, visit www.tourismleadershipforum.africa or contact the Registration Hotline at +27 (0)81 303 7030 or email [email protected].

About Africa Tourism Partners (ATP)

Africa Tourism Partners (ATP) is a UNWTO-affiliated, award-winning Pan-African tourism development and strategic destination marketing advisory firm. Specializing in tourism and MICE strategy formulation, investment facilitation and promotion, research, master planning, and destination market development, ATP contributes significantly to the growth of Africa’s travel, tourism, hospitality, aviation, and golf sub-industries. ATP’s esteemed clients and partners include organizations such as UNWTO, World Bank, Mastercard Foundation, NEPAD, AfCFTA, and many more.

About UNWTO

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is the United Nations agency responsible for promoting responsible, sustainable, and universally accessible tourism. UNWTO advocates for tourism as a driver of economic growth, inclusive development, and environmental sustainability, offering leadership and support to the sector in advancing knowledge and tourism policies worldwide.

About AfCFTA

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a free trade area encompassing most of Africa, established in 2018 by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. With 43 parties and 11 signatories, it is the largest free-trade area by the number of member states and is positioned to drive economic growth, inclusive development, and trade sustainability across the continent.

Contact Details

For more information about partnerships, sponsorships, registration, and inquiries, please contact Ms. Rejoice Chishamba at [email protected] or call +27 (0) 11 318 1741 / +27 (0) 81 303 7030.