Essence of Africa launches with dynamic first day in Nairobi

Africa's International Buyer Forum kicked off in vibrant style yesterday as 255 tourism professionals from 37 countries gathered for the inaugural Essence of Africa event in Nairobi, Kenya.

The day began at the culturally-rich Nairobi Street Kitchen, where ATTA® President Nigel Vere Nicoll welcomed delegates by reflecting on African tourism's evolution from basic camps to world-class sustainable destinations. The opening session featured a powerful keynote from Jan Hutton, CEO of Australian Tourism Data Warehouse, who emphasised the crucial role of human intelligence and authentic experiences in African tourism.

A highlight of the morning was the Market Buzz sessions, where industry experts from four global regions - Africa & Middle East, Americas, Asia Pacific, and Europe - engaged in candid discussions about market trends and opportunities. These sessions, addressing everything from digital transformation to sustainable tourism practices, provided a platform for sharing insights that will shape the future of African tourism.

The afternoon saw the start of business meetings at Sarit Expo Centre, where 130 pre-qualified buyers began their scheduled appointments with 125 African exhibitors. These targeted meetings, which will continue over the next two days, are central to the event's mission of creating meaningful partnerships between global buyers and African tourism suppliers.

"Essence of Africa is a movement to reposition Africa as one of the world's most diverse and exciting travel destinations," said Amanda Margison, co-founder of the event. "It's an opportunity to engage with key players in the tourism industry, learn from thought leaders, and gain fresh insights into Africa's dynamic travel industry."

The event continues today with thought-provoking discussions led by industry leaders including Amos Wekesa of Great Lakes Safaris Limited, Judith Lagat Tanchu of Cheli & Peacock Safaris, and Mohanjeet Brar of Gamewatchers Safaris & Porini Camps. These sessions will explore crucial topics from building sustainable business models that benefit local communities to bold strategies for marketing Africa's diverse offerings to global audiences.

With over 4,000 meetings scheduled across the three days, Essence of Africa is positioning itself as a key platform for driving innovation in African tourism and creating meaningful partnerships that will shape the industry's future.