WTM Africa 2027 runs 7–9 April at the CTICC, Cape Town. Who exhibits, how to register or apply as a hosted buyer, side events and how to reach the venue.
Cover image: Cape Town City Bowl and Table Mountain at dawn, host city of WTM Africa — photo by Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
WTM Africa 2027 runs from Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 April 2027 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), from 10:00 to 18:00 on the first two days and 10:00 to 16:00 on the Friday. RX Africa organises it as part of Africa Travel Week, and RX calls it "the leading and only B2B event for both inbound and outbound travel and tourism markets in Africa". The show launched in 2014.
It works in both directions: African tourism boards, hotels, destination management companies (DMCs) and tour operators meet international buyers, while destinations from elsewhere court buyers from Africa's outbound market. Africa Travel Week announced on 22 September 2026 that buyer applications for 2027 were open; visitor registration had not opened by 25 October 2026.
Who exhibits and who attends WTM Africa?
The 2026 edition ran from 13 to 15 April 2026 at the CTICC. RX's release of 15 April 2026, issued during the show, counted 8,000 trade professionals from 63 countries, 780 exhibitors from 40 countries and 13,500 confirmed appointments, 35% more appointments than in 2025, with 43 tourism boards and 101 speakers across 82 sessions. Fifteen countries sent buyers for the first time, including Jamaica, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Pakistan, Denmark and Portugal, and RX said 81% of hosted buyers and Buyers' Club members were new to the show. These are in-show figures rather than a post-show tally.
RX's attendee profile lists tourism organisations, hotel chains, inbound and outbound tour operators, ground handlers, airlines, conference venues and technology firms among participants, names adventure travel, safari holidays, business tourism and city breaks as the leading sectors in 2024, and says seven in ten attendees hold senior roles.
For 2027, RX says its sales pipeline points to more exhibitors from East Africa and the Indian Ocean (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, Mauritius and Réunion) and Southern Africa (Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Angola). An IBTM Africa zone on the same floor flags exhibitors serving meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) buyers, with its own visibility in the appointment system.
How to attend WTM Africa 2027
Only pre-registered badge holders get in, and badges are non-transferable. On 25 October 2026 RX's first-time visitor page told visitors to "keep an eye out for 2027 registration"; it also advises printing the e-badge to skip queues.
| Route | Who it is for | What it includes | Status on 25 October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trade visitor | Travel and tourism professionals | Show floor, conference, ConnectMe diary | Registration not yet open |
| Fully hosted buyer | Senior buyers with authority to contract African product | Flight contribution, airport transfers, up to four hotel nights, appointment diary | Open (announced 22 September 2026) |
| Semi-hosted buyer | As above | Up to four hotel nights with breakfast, appointment diary | Applications open |
| Buyers' Club | Qualified buyers with purchasing authority | Buyers' Lounge with Wi-Fi and refreshments, appointment diary | Applications open |
Cost: RX has not published a 2027 visitor price. When registration opened for the 2023 edition, Africa Travel Week's news site said entry was free. For buyers, RX notes that "a registration fee will apply upon approval of attendance".
Hosted buyers: RX wants senior buyers with contracting or direct purchasing authority, evidence of past business and recent growth in Africa, references from South African organisations they have worked with in the past year and an annual budget for South Africa. Fully hosted buyers receive a return flight contribution, airport transfers and up to four nights at a designated hotel with breakfast; semi-hosted buyers get the hotel nights without flights or transfers. Speed networking is mandatory, and pre- and post-show tours are not guaranteed. Applicants register interest, pass RX's qualification check and then build an online diary with at least 30 appointment preferences.
Is it open to the public? No. RX's admissions policy limits entry to professional and business visitors and exhibitors connected to travel and tourism. Under-18s need the organiser's written approval, and in 2026 students on travel and tourism courses could apply to attend on the final day only, accompanied by lecturers. Press badges go to working media, not advertising sales staff.
Networking at WTM Africa: diaries, stages and side events
Meetings run through ConnectMe, RX's planning and matchmaking tool: every visitor gets an account to manage a diary, schedule meetings and message attendees before the show. Hosted buyers also take part in speed networking and invitation-only networking events.
The 2026 content programme, according to RX, covered travel technology and responsible, adventure, medical, golf and sports tourism, and included the Africa Tourism Investment Conference on 14 April. Entries for the 2027 WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards are free and close on 31 December 2026.
Africa Travel Week also includes ILTM Africa, RX's invitation-only luxury event, held from 4 to 6 April 2027 at the Norval Foundation in Cape Town rather than at the CTICC. The two run back to back.
Getting to the CTICC and where to stay
The CTICC is at Convention Square, 1 Lower Long Street, in central Cape Town. RX notes that Cape Town International Airport has direct flights from many international cities, with connections via Johannesburg's OR Tambo airport. By public transport, RX says the CTICC is on a MyCiTi bus route from the airport into the city. MyCiTi's stop data lists route A01 between the Airport stop and Civic Centre, where route 104 continues to the Convention Centre stop, but MyCiTi published no A01 timetable when we checked on 25 October 2026, so confirm the airport service before relying on it. By road, the venue has more than 1,400 secure parking bays and a drop-off zone for Uber, and RX warns of morning traffic.
RX names no official hotel on its public site; hosted buyers stay at designated partner hotels arranged by RX. Its scam warnings caution against hotel-booking firms that claim to be a preferred supplier and demand up-front payment, and advise booking through reputable suppliers rather than unsolicited calls or emails.
How WTM Africa compares with Meetings Africa
Meetings Africa, owned by South African Tourism, runs at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg from 22 to 24 February 2027, about six weeks earlier, and is devoted to business events. WTM Africa is a general travel-trade show for inbound and outbound tourism, with MICE buyers served through its IBTM Africa zone. Within RX's portfolio, WTM Latin America follows in São Paulo from 13 to 15 April 2027, and WTM London runs at ExCeL London from 3 to 5 November 2026. Other dates are on our travel trade shows calendar.
Frequently asked questions
When is WTM Africa 2027?
WTM Africa 2027 runs from Wednesday 7 to Friday 9 April 2027 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), Convention Square, 1 Lower Long Street, Cape Town. Hours are 10:00 to 18:00 on Wednesday and Thursday and 10:00 to 16:00 on Friday. The 2026 edition ran there from 13 to 15 April.
Is WTM Africa open to the public?
No. RX's admissions policy limits entry to professional and business visitors and exhibitors involved in travel and tourism or related industries, and only pre-registered badge holders are admitted. Under-18s need the organiser's written approval, and tourism students must apply to RX.
How much does it cost to attend WTM Africa?
RX had not published a 2027 visitor price or opened visitor registration on 25 October 2026. When registration opened for the 2023 edition, Africa Travel Week said entry was free. Buyers applying to the hosted or Buyers' Club programmes should note RX's statement that a registration fee applies once attendance is approved.
How do I become a hosted buyer at WTM Africa?
Register interest through RX's buyers page; Africa Travel Week announced 2027 applications open on 22 September 2026. RX then qualifies applicants, looking for senior buyers with contracting authority, past business in Africa and references from South African partners. Fully hosted buyers receive a flight contribution and up to four hotel nights; semi-hosted buyers get the hotel nights without flights.
Is ILTM Africa part of WTM Africa?
ILTM Africa is part of the same Africa Travel Week but is a separate, invitation-only luxury event. It runs from 4 to 6 April 2027 at the Norval Foundation in Cape Town, not at the CTICC, and ends the day before WTM Africa opens.
Sources
- RX, WTM Africa homepage: 2027 dates and show hours
- RX, Buyers at WTM Africa
- RX, WTM Africa admissions policy
- RX, Who attends WTM Africa?
- RX, WTM Africa venue and travel
- RX, WTM Africa 2026 opens to record numbers
- Africa Travel Week, WTM Africa 2027 buyer applications are open
- MyCiTi, Route stops and timetables
