SADC Executive Secretary, H.E. Elias M. Magosi will join Pan-African and global thought leaders who will speak at the 6th Africa Tourism Leadership Forum and Awards. Scheduled to take place from 04 to 06 October 2023 in Gaborone, Botswana, the Forum will be preceded by an entrepreneurship Masterclass and Business-to-Business meetings on the 3rd of October.
Regional economic integration remains a strategic priority of SADC in its efforts to contribute to sustainable growth and development, thereby alleviating and eventually eradicating poverty in all the SADC Member States (MS). Therefore, the theme of the forum, “Igniting Intra-Africa tourism, through inclusive intra-Africa trade, partnerships and Investments”, is relevant to the SADC, and resonates well with the Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan (RISDP) 2020-2030 that aims to market the SADC region as a single tourism destination.
Policymakers, industry representatives, professionals, travel trade, media, academics and youth organisations from over forty-two (42) countries will be presented at this year’s Forum to connect, dialogue, share knowledge and trade. Among these countries are Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. Like the 2022 Forum, over 600 delegates have registered to use this platform for market access development.
To reinforce the significance of travel, tourism and hospitality entrepreneurship, Africa Tourism Partners, the Botswana Tourism Organisation, and the University of South Africa (UNISA) will jointly deliver the Tourism Entrepreneurship Masterclass and a bespoke Women in Tourism Entrepreneurship programme.
Organisers noted limited available spaces for physical attendance, one-on-one B2B sessions, desk-top exhibitions, and destination showcases, encouraging participants to register on its website.
