WTM Africa 2026 Opens in Cape Town with Record 8,000 Trade Professionals and 786 Exhibitors
World Travel Market Africa 2026 opened at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on 13 April with record attendance, welcoming 8,000 trade professionals, 786 exhibitors from 40 countries, and buyers from over 100 nations. The event recorded 13,500 pre-booked appointments - 35 per cent more than 2025 - with 15 per cent more trade professionals and double-digit growth in buyer attendance. RX Africa Managing Director Carol Weaving noted that 81 per cent of attending buyers are first-time WTM Africa participants, with buyers from 15 new countries represented this year, including Mozambique, Rwanda, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, South Korea, and Denmark. New exhibitor destinations include Angola, Djibouti, Jordan, Norway, Switzerland, Germany, and Dubai, reflecting the event's expanding global footprint.
Cape Town's Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth James Vos highlighted the city's growth as an international aviation hub, with international flights increasing from 184 per week at the end of 2022 to over 230 per week as of March 2026, with further expansion targeted across Africa, the Americas, Europe, and direct routes to India and China. Vos also unveiled Cape Town's new tourism framework, targeting 3.4 million arrivals by 2030, R34 billion in visitor spending, and a doubling of tourism jobs from 106,000 to over 200,000. The City of Cape Town has committed R40 billion to supporting infrastructure - covering water, energy, transport, and safety - and confirmed a multi-year agreement to retain WTM Africa in Cape Town. "The impact goes far beyond these few days because it translates into future bookings, sustained demand and long-term growth," said Vos.
Source: Tourism Update
