‘Connecting through Conversation’, a networking event was organised by African travel trade body ATTA in Cape Town, South Africa, where responsible tourism dominated the discussions.

More than 100 members of Africa’s Western Cape tourism community attended the Connecting through Conversation networking event in Cape Town recently. The event was hosted by African Travel & Tourism Association (ATTA) in collaboration with Western Cape Tourism, Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (WESGRO).

In a press statement, the organisers say that industry leaders shared their expertise and vision for success through the event, with responsible tourism at the forefront. Designed to inspire conversations and foster positive connections, ATTA’s latest networking event followed on the heels of successful events such as Experience Africa in London and Indaba at Durban.

The organisers say that the event included a question and answer session with a panel of passionate industry experts. The discussions were based on enabling the tourism community to connect through conversation.

It goes on to add say that panellists included Natalia Rosa, CEO of Big Ambitions, Monika Iuel, Chief Destination Marketing Officer for WESGRO, Ingram Casey, founder of tour-operating firm Escape + Explore, Shama Nathoo, Founding Member of the Universal Accessibility Tourism Association and Julie Cheetham, co-founder of travel tech firm Weeva.

A focus for ATTA in 2023 was empowering community-based tourism initiatives, say the event organisers. On the occasion, ATTA also unveiled a new pilot initiative being developed and trialled in the Western Cape. The project aims to foster a conscious and united community within the travel and tourism industry. Its trial will run from mid-August with a review prior to ATTA’s new membership categories being launched in October.

“The trial project, named ATTA for Action, will be a new accessible membership category, that seeks to empower tourism community projects with market access to, and exposure within the tourism industry, and wider ATTA membership. The trial is ultimately designed to offer the wider industry the opportunity to shine a light upon community projects, conservation efforts, and sustainable development initiatives across the region,” says Jon Danks, CEO of ATTA.

A new partnership between ATTA members and sustainability platform Weeva was also announced during the event. With a goal to transform tourism into a sustainable business, the organisers add that Weeva mirrors ATTA’s renewed commitment to measured and managed impact.