WTM Africa 2026 Returns to Cape Town with Bigger Global Buyer Programme and Sustainability Focus

Cape Town (TRI) – World Travel Market Africa (WTM Africa) has unveiled its 2026 schedule, set for 13–15 April 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), positioning the event as the premier B2B platform for unlocking Africa’s tourism potential amid a post-pandemic boom.

Organized by RX Africa, the 2026 edition promises an expanded footprint with an 18% larger show floor, incorporating two additional halls to meet surging demand from exhibitors across the continent and beyond. Early-bird bookings are outpacing last year by 42%, featuring robust participation from established players like South African Tourism, Cape Town Tourism, Wesgro, Kenya Tourism Board, Tanzania Tourist Board, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Seychelles, Mauritius, Morocco, Egypt, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia, and emerging national pavilions from Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, and Tunisia. This growth reflects Africa’s rising profile as a high-yield destination, with 70 countries represented in recent editions and over 61,625 appointment requests facilitating millions in business deals.

At the core of WTM Africa’s value proposition is the acclaimed Hosted Buyer Programme, which will welcome more than 450 qualified international buyers – a notable increase from 380 in 2025. Curated for top-performing agents, tour operators, and MICE planners, the programme prioritizes source markets including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, India, China, Brazil, France, Italy, and the Nordic countries. Dedicated streams cater to luxury, adventure, MICE, and responsible tourism segments. Fully hosted perks include round-trip economy or business-class flights, four nights at premier 5-star accommodations (such as One&Only Cape Town, Mount Nelson, Silo Hotel, Radisson RED V&A Waterfront, and The Table Bay Hotel), seamless transfers, and a customized diary of pre-scheduled one-on-one meetings. Past participants, like Desire de Waal of Desire Travel in Namibia, have praised the programme for its “productive meetings and well-organized events leading to exciting business opportunities.”

The content agenda for 2026 will deliver over 50 hours of actionable insights, blending keynotes, panels, and interactive sessions under transformative themes: travel as a cultural connector, sustainable growth honoring Africa’s heritage, and an inclusive, tech-forward future. Highlights include:

• Responsible Tourism Summit: A two-day deep dive with case studies from Rwanda’s community-led conservation, Botswana’s eco-luxury models, Kenya’s wildlife corridors, and Namibia’s desert restoration projects.
• Travel Tech Africa Arena: Live pitches from 30 innovative African start-ups, judged by investors from Silicon Cape, Knife Capital, and global VCs, showcasing AI-driven personalization, blockchain for bookings, and sustainable supply chain tools.
• Aviation & Connectivity Forum: High-level discussions with airline CEOs from Ethiopian Airlines, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Airlink, and CemAir on route expansions, intra-African connectivity, and green aviation incentives.
• Luxury Travel Exchange: An invitation-only matchmaking event linking high-end African lodges, DMCs, and private-island operators with ultra-luxury buyers.
• Influencer & Media Marketplace: Access to 120 vetted journalists, bloggers, and content creators for on-site networking, press trips, and collaborative campaigns.

Drawing from the Africa Travel Week State of the Industry Report 2025, the event will challenge attendees to rethink tourism models for more connected, inclusive delivery – from marketing strategies that amplify underrepresented voices to experiences that foster genuine cultural exchanges. Exhibitors like Casbah SA Holding Pty Ltd and African Gypsy have lauded previous editions for their “excellent organization” and direct contributions to business growth, with a 30% year-on-year exhibitor increase underscoring the event’s momentum.

Visa & Entry Requirements for South Africa (as of December 2025) South Africa’s visa policies are designed to facilitate seamless business travel:

• Visa-free access (up to 90 days) for passport holders from the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, most European Union/Schengen countries (including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, and Switzerland), Japan, Singapore, and Brazil. A valid passport (at least 30 days beyond departure) and proof of onward travel suffice.
• Electronic Visa (e-Visa): Streamlined online applications (processing in 5–10 working days) for nationals of India, China, Nigeria, Kenya, and over 70 other countries, requiring a passport scan, photo, itinerary, and accommodation proof via the official VFS Global portal.
• Visa on Arrival: Available at Cape Town International Airport for select African and Middle Eastern nationalities, with on-site processing. The Trusted Traveller Programme, including biometric e-gates, has reduced immigration wait times to under 12 minutes for pre-registered eligible travelers. All visitors must complete a free Traveller’s Health Questionnaire online 48 hours prior to arrival.

Registration and Participation Timeline

• Exhibitor and hosted buyer applications open on 15 January 2026.
• Media accreditation, along with the lottery for pre- and post-show FAM trips (to the Garden Route, Winelands, Kruger National Park, and KwaZulu-Natal), launches 1 February 2026.

RX Africa Managing Director Carol Weaving stated:

“WTM Africa 2026 marks the first fully unrestricted edition since 2019, with international buyers increasingly viewing Africa as their top growth frontier for the next five years. We’re committed to driving sustainable, inclusive progress that celebrates the continent’s unparalleled heritage.”

For those mapping out a 2026 trade-show itinerary, WTM Africa stands out as the ultimate one-stop hub – compressing a year’s worth of African supplier contracts, DMO insights, and private-sector partnerships into just three intensive days.

Secure your spot early: 13–15 April 2026, CTICC, Cape Town.