Africa’s New Virtual Tourism Village Is Open

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, the virtual doors are open at Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo, giving travel buyers around the world a new way to discover and connect with tourism businesses from across Africa and the Indian Ocean without committing to a full-day conference or traditional trade-show schedule.

The platform has been designed around the working diaries of travel designers and tourism professionals. Buyers can enter the virtual village, browse exhibitor booths, identify relevant products and arrange 20-minute one-to-one video meetings when it suits them. They can spend 20 minutes on the platform, return later in the week or participate during one of the remaining Global Pop-Up weeks.

The village will remain open until 30 September, while the structured Global Pop-Up programme continues across 31 August–4 September, 14–18 September and 21–25 September. Meeting windows are aligned with international source markets, but participants retain control over when they are available and who they choose to meet.

The exhibitor community is also continuing to grow during the activation. Travel Promoters and Jabulani Safari joined the village on 25 August, with additional tourism businesses expected to continue arriving as the showcase progresses.

Buyers can also discover a different side of the continent through The Unseen Africa, a collaboration with Africa DMC’s inside The Pavilion. The initiative introduces informal destination lounges where travel professionals can meet locally based specialists and learn more about African destinations and products that may sit outside their existing portfolios.

Unlike the platform’s scheduled one-to-one meetings, The Unseen Africa lounges do not require an appointment. Buyers can enter The Pavilion during the published meeting windows, choose a lounge and join the conversation. The focus is on practical destination discovery, giving travel designers an opportunity to ask questions, understand unfamiliar products and identify new possibilities for their clients.

Around Africa | The Impact Imbizo is open to approved global travel buyers at no cost. New buyers can still register during the activation, while those already approved can log in and begin exploring the village immediately.