Cape Town Set to Host Africa's Premier Tourism Investment Gathering Next Week
The Africa Tourism Investment Conference returns to Cape Town on 14 April 2026, offering tourism and investment professionals from across the continent a rare opportunity to engage directly with the decision-makers shaping the future of African travel. Hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre as part of World Travel Market Africa, this one-day gathering promises to deliver substantive discussions on unlocking investment potential across the continent's diverse tourism landscape.
Produced in partnership with JLL Africa, an affiliate member of UN Tourism, the conference brings together an influential assembly of investors, policymakers, tourism authorities, and private sector leaders. For travel professionals seeking to understand where capital is flowing and which destinations are positioning themselves for growth, this event represents an essential date on the calendar.
Conference Director Gillian Saunders has emphasised the strengthened international perspective that characterises this year's programme. The focus centres on what investors genuinely seek when evaluating African tourism opportunities, namely strong strategic partners, transparent policy frameworks, and demonstrable long-term growth potential. This practical orientation distinguishes the gathering from more general industry forums and provides actionable intelligence for participants.
The City of Cape Town has embraced its role as host with characteristic enthusiasm. James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, highlighted how the conference aligns with broader efforts to position both the city and the continent as serious destinations for tourism investment. He pointed to the tangible economic impact that tourism delivers through job creation, small business development, and community opportunities. The anticipated signing of Cape Town's new tourism framework further demonstrates municipal commitment to building infrastructure that instils confidence among investors and visitors alike.
The programme addresses several themes of direct relevance to African travel businesses. UN Tourism will present its comprehensive Investing in Africa 2025 Report, providing delegates with authoritative data on continental trends. Political economist Daniel Silke will unpack the global context affecting African tourism, examining economic growth trajectories, geopolitical shifts, intra-African trade dynamics, and demographic patterns that will shape demand in coming years.
Sessions will explore investment-ready African destinations and analyse the emerging trend of hotel groups entering the lodge industry, a development with significant implications for safari tourism across the region. The increasingly pertinent question of over-tourism will receive thoughtful examination, considering whether excessive investment in certain areas might prove counterproductive and exploring mitigation strategies alongside opportunities for more sustainable development.
Sports tourism emerges as a prominent theme, reflecting recent continental milestones. The discussions will draw on LIV Golf's historic African debut at The Club at Steyn City in Johannesburg and Morocco's ambitious positioning to host Formula One events. These developments signal growing recognition of Africa's potential as a venue for major international sporting occasions that drive visitor numbers and infrastructure development.
The speaker roster features prominent figures from across the investment and hospitality spectrum. Hamza Farooqui of Millat Global Holdings brings experience behind some of Southern Africa's most significant hotel transactions. Tim Harris, former CEO of Wesgro, offers perspectives on creating attractive investment climates. David Desta from JLL's Hotels and Hospitality Group provides strategic advisory insight spanning the Middle East and Africa. Additional voices include Ashish Sharma of Serena Hotels Africa, overseeing a twenty-two property continental portfolio, and John Gibson of Chobe Holdings Limited, leading one of Botswana's foremost listed tourism groups with deep commitments to eco-tourism and conservation.
Beyond formal sessions, the conference facilitates valuable networking through in-person engagement opportunities. The Stellenbosch Experience provides an additional platform for relationship-building in a distinctly South African setting, where informal conversations often yield the connections that later mature into formal partnerships.
With registration closing on 13 April and capacity limited, interested delegates face an urgent deadline to secure their participation. For African travel professionals seeking to understand investment trends and connect with capital sources driving continental tourism growth, this gathering offers exceptional value at a critical moment for the industry.
