Inaugural Essence of Africa earns praise from delegates and buyers
The first edition of Essence of Africa has concluded with overwhelmingly positive feedback from both buyers and exhibitors, who praised the event's organisation, quality of participants, and business opportunities created.
For many international buyers, the event proved transformative in changing perceptions about African tourism. Brian Tan, Trip to Go President (USA), attending his first event in Kenya, admitted to arriving with limited knowledge and some misconceptions. "After two days of very productive meetings, I have changed my mind totally. Kenya is a place everybody should come to at least once in their lifetime," he shared.
The quality of meetings and participants emerged as a consistent highlight. Fidelis noted that out of hundreds of meetings, barely any were no-shows, while Saitoti Saibull from Biko Travel and Tours (Tanzania) praised the quality of buyer-seller matches, highlighting the careful curation of participants.
The event's structure received acclaim for its efficiency. "You go to shows where you don't know where to go or what's going on, but this has been so well organised," observed Anald Musariri, Africa Albida (Zimbabwe), citing the growing connectivity between East and Southern Africa as a key opportunity.
For exhibitors like Michael Njogu, MD Sense of Africa (East Africa), the forum provided valuable learning opportunities. "All the buyers have a certain touch of the industry that you learn from. It's been a good engagement forum for the whole industry," he noted.
The event's location in Nairobi proved strategic. Christine Mwinike, MD Crystal Safaris (Tanzania) appreciated the format of bringing buyers to Africa: "They can experience the new experiences here and see what we have to offer." This sentiment was echoed by Anne Hiri from Air Kenya Express (Kenya), who valued the opportunity to showcase East Africa as a destination.
Beyond the meetings, the event's content sessions received high praise. Zintle Mtsi, Product and Communications Coordinator Wesgro (South Africa) highlighted the panel discussions as particularly valuable, noting they provided important insights into industry trends and fostered meaningful stakeholder interactions.
Robert Kabuzu, General Manager at Cresta Hotels (Botswana) summed up the general sentiment, praising both the organisation and the sustainability discussion, while highlighting the promising global connections made during the event.
With its inaugural edition successfully concluded, Essence of Africa has established itself as a key platform for connecting African tourism with global markets, with many participants already confirming their attendance for next year's event.
