The
launch of International Luxury
Travel Market (ILTM) Africa, Cape Town will
also include the first ILTM Africa Forum.
ILTM
Africa Forum will be a live debate led by some of Africa’s leading
industry figures who will discuss the rise of luxury travel, the
issues that this has brought to the continent, and how safari tourism
has moved upmarket. There will also be a key one-on-one interview to
be announced in the coming weeks.
The
Forum, facilitated by international African Travel Writer, Graham
Boynton will take place before the show opens on Monday 8th April at
the Mount Nelson Hotel, the same venue as the ILTM Africa showcase.
It will be in two parts and starts with Minister Alan Winde, Ministry
of Finance, Economic Development and Tourism for the Western Cape
Government, who will give an insight into the infrastructure and
tourism assets of his region and beyond. Winde will then be followed
by South African author Clem Sunter, focusing on Africa’s economic
and political health.
Boynton
will then facilitate a lively debate on “The Issues Facing
The Luxury Travel Market” looking at perception v reality
– how the outside world sees Africa - and the impact of recent
changes that have taken place in the market, plus how the luxury
African product has evolved and the key issue of intra-country air
connections. Taking part will be Tony Romer Lee – CEO, The
Collection by Liz McGrath; Adrian Gardiner – Founder & CEO,
Mantis Group and Beks Ndlovu – CEO, African Bush Camps.
ILTM’s
Exhibition Director, Alison Gilmore commented: “The point of the
ILTM forum concept is to kick off an event with some content and
debate that gives all our participants – exhibitors and hosted
buyers – real insights into trends, issues and successes of the
host country as well as some thought provoking take-aways to begin
their two days of business. We are delighted to welcome Minister Alan
Winde and of course such an influential line up of speakers for what
is bound to be a lively and enlightening debate that will also give
the audience the opportunity to ask their own questions from those
that are directly involved in the industry luxury tourism”.
In
its first year, ILTM Africa 2013 will be the first invitation only
event in Africa to showcase 70 exclusively African travel experiences
who will meet with 70 international Hosted Buyers, dedicated to
creating and planning luxury travelinbound to Africa.
Business
appointments are pre-scheduled, matching mutual requests from buyers
and exhibitors alike to meet on a strict one-to-one ratio. Following
the traditional ILTM format, both buyers and exhibitors must follow a
strict accreditation process in order to participate.
