The annual Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) Conference, taking place at Fancourt in George between 13 and 15 August 2015, will see WTM® Africa join forces with the association as a platinum sponsor for the event.

After a difficult year for South Africa’s inbound tourism sector, SATSA members plan to take stock and regroup at this year’s conference, which is themed ‘Out of the Fire: Working Together for Growth.’ Says SATSA CEO, David Frost: “We need to turn our focus to the future now and map out our way forward, highlighting areas where we can create leverage for our businesses. We deeply value the role of sponsors in supporting this platform for development.”

WTM® Africa will be sponsoring the opening dinner of the conference, an informal evening featuring the best of food, drink and entertainment that the Garden Route has to offer. In addition, Carol Weaving, Managing Director of Thebe Reed, the organisers of WTM® Africa, will participate in a session on ‘The Future of Trade Shows in South Africa’. This panel discussion takes place on Friday, 14 August at 12h15.

General Manager of WTM® Africa, Chardonnay Marchesi says: “We are looking forward to being part of the SATSA 2015 Conference. A collaboration such as this allows us to work together in addressing current trends in the tourism industry and to further promote the effort achieved in the inbound sector, in making Southern Africa and Africa a marketable leisure destination.”

The three-day conference will review trends such as adventure tourism, responsible tourism, transformation and new approaches in conserving Africa’s wildlife. The prestigious keynote speaker as this year’s conference will be Minister of Tourism, Derek Hanekom.

Taking place in Cape Town at the Cape Town International Convention Centre between 6 and 8 April 2016, WTM® Africa is the leading B2B exhibition for the inbound and outbound African travel and tourism markets. Through its industry networks, global reach and regional focus, WTM® Africa creates personal and business opportunities providing customers with quality contacts, content and communities.

In 2015, WTM® Africa showcased more than 570 exhibitors, 82% new buyers from over 45 different countries, 7600 prescheduled appointments before the show began, as well as an 18% increase on 2014 visitors and 39% increase on overall travel professionals at the show.

WTM® Africa’s inaugural event in 2014 recorded remarkable results which saw approximately 4,000 industry professionals negotiate deals worth $314 million (�189 million).