Africa Travel Week Connect - Unlock Africa

The hybrid work culture is here to stay. How can African tourism companies tap into this growing trend? Discover how accommodation establishments can and should prepare to welcome digital nomads. And find out what destinations have to gain by offering flexible digital nomad visas.

As the trade of rhino horns continues to be a controversial topic, Colin Bell, Ian Michler, and Harold Goodwin debate the pros and cons of legalising the trade. As experts in the field of sustainability and tourism, they offer insights on what could be done to help preserve rhinos."

What are the after-effects of COVID-19 on the travel agent?

In this podcast, we explore the value proposition of the travel agent in a new world. We listen to the experts. ASATA CEO, Otto de Vries, Business Manager Maritime Travel, Rachael Penaluna and Leader Customer Experience Team for the Flight Centre Travel Group, Lynette Machiri tell us their first-hand experiences.

What happens when ecotourism and technology collide? Green tech innovation has the potential to fundamentally revolutionise sustainable tourism in Africa.

We chat to leading industry players in the travel and tourism industry to know how tourism businesses can develop sustainable products and services beyond the installation of solar panels. We ask the hard question on how to make a real difference instead of trying to take travellers for a green ride.

Sherwin Banda of African Travel, Inc, Jillian Blackbeard of Africa’s Eden and Lipian Mtandabari of Ntsako Travel Africa talk about up-and-coming destinations in Africa for the LGBTQ+ market and discuss the various challenges that need to be addressed and changes that need to be made to promote inclusivity for the LGBTQ+ traveller further.

In this week’s Unlock Africa podcast, we chat to RX Africa’s very own Megan Oberholzer and Martin Hiller. They give us a glimpse of what we can expect this year during Africa Travel Week and how the show may differ to previous years. They also share some valuable tips on how to make the most of the first 'live' WTM Africa in over two years.

We hope you enjoyed this last podcast before WTM Africa 2022. We'll be back with our popular podcasts in May. But, for now, we're directing all our energy towards organising the most spectacular WTM Africa show you have ever experienced. Make sure you register. You don't want to miss it!

In this week’s Unlock Africa podcast, we chat to Anthony Berklich from Inspired Citizen. In this interesting discussion, we hash out the luxury tourism sector, what trends we have been seeing over the last year and what to expect for 2022 and beyond.

In this week’s Unlock Africa podcast, we chat to Kojo Bentum-Williams, Senior Communications Expert for Africa. Kojo gives insightful views on what he is seeing across the continent from a trends point of view, how he has seen changes in Africa’s tourism sector and his expectations going forward into 2022 and beyond.

In this week’s Unlock Africa podcast, we chat to Judith Kepher Gona, Director of Sustainable Travel & Tourism Agenda in Kenya. Judith discusses what sustainable tourism looks like in Africa, the challenges, and the trends she foresees for 2022 and beyond. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen in as we explore how to make tourism in Africa more sustainable.

In this week’s Unlock Africa podcast we chat to Uwern Jong, Experientialist (Editor)-in-Chief for OutThere magazine. Uwern speaks to us about what the LGBTQ+ market is looking for in the post-Covid world - and what has changed. He reveals his top trends for 2022 and discusses what travel experts can expect going forward from both the LGBTQ+ and luxury market spaces.

In this week’s Unlock Africa podcast, we chat with Eric Pateman, Founder of ESP Culinary Consulting Inc. and Maylene Broderick, Chief Director: Enterprise Development and Transformation, Department of Tourism. Their in-depth knowledge of the world of culinary tourism gives us valuable insights into how this up-and-coming trend plays a fundamental role in the recovery of our industry. Africa has a unique culinary offering that has the potential to help grow tourism to our beautiful continent.

This week we chatted with the Executive Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis. We dive into what we look forward to in 2022 and what the city has done over the last year. Don't miss this opportunity to hear what the mayor says about the mother city.

Neom is primed to be a futuristic high-tech destination that is pioneering Regenerative Tourism in Saudi Arabia. With a focus on developing travel more consciously, their ethos of Tawazun, meaning balance, will pave the way forward for authentic connections, sustainable impact and responsible experiences.

Don’t miss this informative Unlock Africa podcast episode. We chat with Harriet Whitmarsh and Helen Bolton who are both dealing with the UK source market daily. These two lovely ladies give us an insight into what they hear from travellers, and what trends are defining itinerary decisions. They provide us with an inside scoop into what this source market is looking for.

When listening to this episode it's important to keep in mind that the conversation took place in 2021 before the omicron variant came to light. This might reflect in some of the references made in the discussion.

In this week’s Unlock Africa podcast we chat to Australian source market experts Anthony Goldman and Sean Kritzinger who give us the inside scoop on what is happening with regards to travel to Africa. Listen in and tap into this market with a deeper understanding of what they are looking for in these unsure times.

When listening to this episode it's important to keep in mind that the conversation took place in 2021 before the omicron variant came to light. This might reflect in some of the references made in the discussion.

Don't miss this week's Unlock Africa podcast! We chatted to USA Source market experts Anne-marie Callahan and Akash Baijnath to get a better understanding of the sentiments on traveling to Africa. If you are dealing with the USA market, this is definitely one not to miss!

When listening to this episode it's important to keep in mind that the conversation took place in 2021 before the omicron variant came to light. This might reflect in some of the references made in the discussion.

In this week’s Unlock Africa podcast we call Belgium and chat to Evelyn Honorez, a local Belgian agent and Isabelle Dechamps, Founder & Director of BELAFRIQUE. Together we discuss the Belgian source market, the ease with which they book and travel post-covid and what it is they are looking for in a post-pandemic itinerary. If you want to cater for this traveller going forward, you don’t want to miss this one.

Isabelle Dechamps, Founder & Director of BELAFRIQUE and Laurent Chevassut, Terres Sauvage Switzerland join us on this week's Unlock Africa podcast to chat about the Swiss source market, what changes they have seen over the last two years and what that means for travel to Africa. Listen in to get a better understanding of this market and how to market your product to them.

Timo Sarresalo, Managing Director at Starlight Tours Finland and Johan Groenewald, Managing Director at Royal African Discoveries South Africa, share a deep understanding of the Finnish traveller and their needs when visiting Africa. In this podcast episode, we chat to both the agent on the ground and the DMC in Africa who share insights into what trends they foresee in this source market post-Pandemic.

Today we chat with Rune Engstrøm, Director at Destination Africa & Lica Blomerus, General Manager at Ascot Tours. We dig into the Norwegian source market and discuss the changes they have seen since the pandemic, trends they expect going forward and what they foresee from these travellers coming to Africa.

In today’s podcast, we chat to Ashley Wilson, Director of Conservation at the International Dark-Sky Association. She opens our eyes to the importance of conserving the night sky and urges us to protect Astro tourism to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy the night sky experiences.

In today’s podcast, we chat with Hilton Walker, Chief Marketing and Sales Officer for Great Plains. He gives insights into post-covid travel, the vast open spaces of an African safari and night sky as well as what we can expect from our travel experiences.

Enjoy the natural social distancing of Africa. Sleep under the stars. Explore the vast open plains. Admire the wildlife. Great Plains gives us a taste of this perfect post-covid destination.

In today’s podcast, we chat to David Germain, Seychelles Tourism Board Director, who gives insight into the Seychelles’ underwater wonderland and the importance of conserving these magical spaces.

In today’s podcast, we have John Corse, Managing Director at Serengeti Balloon Safaris sharing the magnificent experiences that can be expected when floating above the open plains of the Serengeti.

In today’s podcast, we have Azwifaneli Mphaphuli, Assistant General Manager Client and Passenger Service at Airports Company South Africa sharing the importance of aviation as an engine of global connectivity and how green shoots are starting to reappear.

Marine Dynamics sought to find a way to keep up their conservation fundraising efforts after regular funds were depleted due to the lack of travellers. Via social media, the business promoted its ongoing work and began to raise funds once again.  Local schools and the domestic market began to visit after the initial lockdown, and Marine Dynamics created a Travel Ready video to encourage visitors to enjoy this outdoor adventure.

Tune into our Unlock Africa podcast series as we speak to Marine Dynamics about how they managed to continue doing their important conservation work during South Africa’s lockdown.

Uthando set up a campaign called ‘Uthando means LOVE’ to help the many communities left in dire need when Lockdown Level 4 hit. Within days of the announcement, a team of two hit the road and worked as a mobile donation unit. By requesting donations through media releases, various magazine articles, and Uthando’s loyal donor base, this campaign managed to help many community development projects. It contributed to extremely impoverished and vulnerable communities.

On our Unlock Africa podcast we discuss the amazing work Uthando did to support vulnerable communities in need during the toughest times of the pandemic. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to further understand their loving heart and all they got up to.

Ensuring their host of industry partners remain confident and enthusiastic about Africa as a destination and increase knowledge to sell in the future, The Africa Hub was born - an authoritative, comprehensive first-port-of-call resource centre for continent-wide destination information. The Africa Hub was promoted via direct marketing, press releases, and social media. The platform aims to continuously keep the continent top of mind and inspire industry partners to sell confidently. 

Listen in on our Unlock Africa podcast series to hear all about the Africa Hub campaign as we discuss where the idea came from – and how it kept Africa top of mind during the global pandemic.

Bringing life in the bush into the homes of locked down travellers, andBeyond connected the world with magnificent wildlife. The team launched the next-best thing to experiencing a safari in person and brought game drives directly into the living rooms of aspiring guests. Twice daily, the rangers and guides were live-streamed on safari while viewers could sit back and enjoy the wildlife encounters the team was experiencing on the ground.

Don’t miss out on learning more about this exciting campaign on our Unlock Africa podcast. We chat with the andBeyond team about how they brought the joy and excitement of South African Safaris into lockdown living rooms across the globe. 

Listen in on our Unlock Africa podcast as we discuss The Art of Penguin with Jon Monsoon. Hear all about how this highly entertaining and educational campaign placed a positive spotlight on Africa during the height of the pandemic.

Tune in and listen to the details of Cape Nature’s campaign on our Unlock Africa podcast series. We discuss the campaign in detail – and how it motivated travel to the reserves as lockdown began to ease.

In this week’s podcast, we talk to Dr Adun Okupe, an expert in sustainability and tourism, currently living in Lagos. Dr Okupe shares her interest in behavioural economics to understand decision making as regards leadership for societal change, socio-cultural leadership, tourism and leisure studies and the impacts these have on the sustainable development agenda.

Joining us on this week’s podcast is Lesego Majatladi, Managing Director at Latitude Aparthotels and also a board member of FEDHASA Cape. What you probably didn’t know about Lesego is that he started his career in TV production, not hospitality. But his story about how the skills he acquired from TV actually help in running a hotel is fascinating and you’ll learn how he’s turned his hotel into a success despite pandemic pressures.

It’s September and that means the spotlight is on tourism. The world is celebrating tourism month and we’re taking the opportunity to look at trends. In this week’s podcast we talk to Megan Oberholzer, RX Africa’s dynamic Portfolio Director for travel, tourism and creative industries who is living her life’s passion to connect people 365 through Africa Travel Week.

Meet Bukola Aliu, CEO of Rock Springs Travels & Tours in Nigeria whose life’s mission is to help others and she walks that talk by providing a hub for colleagues in the travel and tourism sector to collaborate. For Bukola, when we come together as Africans, when we see ourselves as one, things just work.

Meet Monika Iuel, Wesgro’s Chief Marketing Officer, someone who is deeply committed to taking something or someone and making them flourish. A believer that tourism has great power and can transform a country and community, Monika shares her inspiring views on why this is important in South Africa.

Meet Naledi Khabo, the New York-based dynamo CEO of Africa Tourism Association, whose roots hail from South Africa. Join us as she helps Unlock Africa and shares a window on her world. On this week’s podcast, Naledi, the self-confessed tinkerer, challenges us all to stop talking and “just start doing it”.

In this week's interview, we are talking to Phaka Hlazo founder of Zulu Nomad.