Some of South Africa's most innovative tourism product is also its most sustainable, and WTM Africa, whose commitment to responsible tourism underpins the entire event, was the platform to showcase it.

Held at the Cape Town Convention Centre from 2-3 May, WTM Africa saw more than 350 exhibiting companies, including a host of exciting responsible tourism suppliers in the Western Cape who presented their products to buyers and the press at the first Responsible Tourism Speed Marketing session ever held in South Africa.

From guided cycle tours of the Cape Winelands and running tours through the Gugulethu, to green cabs and tour operators assisting travellers with disabilities, the entrepreneurs were given five minutes each to present their unique product offering.

Says tourism entrepreneur, Ian Harris from Coffeebeans Routes: “Travellers are on the look out for stories and we have an opportunity to share everyone's story in the mainstream environment, from the former Spier chef who cooks for our travellers and educates them about the iShack project, to the Khayelitsha fashion designer and the Beer Route where visitors get to see traditional micro-brewing.”

“We approached Reed Exhibitions and Reed Thebe Exhibitions to provide a platform for these 14 entrepreneurs to access buyers and press at WTM Africa. Not only have they given us an opportunity to present their product, the exhibitors were also registered as exhibitors giving them much wider exposure to the events attendees. WTM Africa has sustainability as its foundation and this is the perfect event for this type of product to showcase itself,” says Heidi Keyser, International Sustainable Tourism Advisor.

Responsibility is high on the agenda for WTM Africa, says WTM Africa Exhibitions Director Polly Magraw. “And especially in Cape Town where we have so many wonderful responsible tourism products that can be showcased.”

“We have also worked with Greenpop so that a tree is planted on behalf of each exhibitor to help offset the carbon emission generated as a result of the show,” says Polly.

Although the tourism entrepreneurs received free entry to the show, they did raise funds for WTM Africa's official charities, Tusk and The Code. “Nearly R3 000 was raised for WTM Africa's two official charities and we are extremely grateful for their generosity,” concludes Polly.

To find out more about the WTM Africa visit www.wtmafrica.com.

We also invite you to like WTM Africa's facebook page https://www.facebook.com/wtmafrica and join us on twitter using: @WTM_Africa and #wtmafrica.

For all media enquiries:

In Africa

Lloyd Orr Communications

Tel: +27 11 702 9601

Chantal Nieuwenhuizen                                                        Myra Rego

chantal@lloydorr.com                                                      myra@lloydorr.com

International

World Travel Market – Africa

Tel: +44 (0)20 8910 7897

Paul Nelson  / Nicole Collett

paul.nelson@reedexpo.co.uk / Nicole.Collett@Reedexpo.co.uk

Notes to the editor:

About World Travel Market  Africa-

World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, is the must-attend business-to-business exhibition for the worldwide travel and tourism industry. WTM, now in its 34th year, has launched the first World Travel Market Africa show. WTM Africa is a two day event which will be held in Cape Town's International Convention Centre (CTICC) on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 May. It will be the leading B2B exhibition for Africa's leisure travel industry, bringing the world to Africa and promoting Africa to the world's leading source markets. WTM Africa will attract exhibitors from all categories of the leisure travel industry within sub-Sahara Africa as well as North African destinations, aligning itself with sister events; WTM, WTM Latin America, Arabian Travel Market and International French Travel Market Top Resa. 

WTM is owned by the world's leading events organiser Reed Exhibitions (RE), which organises a portfolio of other travel industry events including World Travel Market Latin America, Arabian Travel Market and International Luxury Travel Market.

In 2012, RE held more than 460 events in 36 countries bringing together more than seven million people from around the world generating billions of dollars in business.

About Thebe Reed Exhibitions

Formally Thebe Exhibitions and Projects (TEPG), the newly branded Thebe Reed Exhibitions is a joint venture agreement with Thebe Tourism Group Pty Limited and Reed Exhibitions. It is now Southern Africa's most forward thinking and successful exhibition, trade fair, special project and event organiser responsible for exhibitions such as Decorex, 100% Design, Meidiatech Africa, the Sports and Events Tourism Exchange (SETE), Business Opportunities and Franchise Expo and now the Africa Travel Week events; WTM Africa, ILTM and IBTM.  Thebe Reed Exhibitions aims to provide the best platform for showcasing industries and nurturing business and networking opportunities on the African continent. www.thebereed.co.za

About Reed Travel Exhibitions

Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) is the world's leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry, with a wide-ranging portfolio of 21 international events in 14 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. Its market-leading, business-to-business events cover all elements of travel and tourism, including leisure travel, luxury travel, meetings, events, incentives and business travel, as well as golf, ski and spa travel. RTE is part of Reed Exhibitions. RTE is a business unit of Reed Exhibitions. www.reedtravelexhibitions.com