Africa Tourism Partners (ATP), as the organiser of the 8th Africa Tourism Leadership Forum (ATLF) & Awards, has unveiled the first lineup of speakers for the 2026 edition, bringing together leading tourism stakeholders and destination development experts from across Africa and beyond. The forum is being organised in collaboration with the Limpopo Tourism Agency, the UN World Tourism Organisation, the AfCFTA Secretariat, BDO, and the Africa Tourism Private Sector Alliance (ATPSA), with a shared focus on advancing tourism growth and regional cooperation across the continent.

Scheduled to take place from 2 to 4 September 2026 at Meropa Casino in Polokwane City, Limpopo Province, the forum comes at a time when intra-African travel is undergoing significant change. Organisers say the growth of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is creating new opportunities for cross-border business and tourism, making regional collaboration increasingly important for the sector.

The forum will serve as a platform for ministerial delegations, policymakers, hotel executives, hospitality investors and tourism innovators to examine industry growth trends and explore emerging business opportunities. Discussions are expected to focus on improving access to regional source markets while strengthening engagement between tourism stakeholders across the continent.

Among the first confirmed speakers are Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa, Chief Executive Officer of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA); Elcia Grandcourt, Director of the Africa Department at UN Tourism; Prof. Kobby Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Development Company; June Chepkemei, Chief Executive Officer of the Kenya Tourism Board; and Mokwena Morulane, Managing Director of Cresta Marakanelo Limited in Botswana.

The lineup also includes international experts such as Dr Dušan Borovčanin, Advisor for EXPO 2027 and Assistant Professor at Singidunum University in Serbia; Dr Shatha Alkaud, Founder and CEO of Emportality Consultancy in Saudi Arabia; Diego Rodriguez, President and Co-Founder of Passporter in Spain; and Joel ‘Kachi’ Benson, the Emmy Award-winning documentary filmmaker and virtual reality creator from Nigeria.

Africa Tourism Partners highlighted that the speakers will address practical issues affecting Africa’s tourism and hospitality industries, with a strong focus on how artificial intelligence can support business growth, increase revenue generation and unlock new investment opportunities across the continent’s travel ecosystem. Additional sessions are expected to examine the evolving relationship between technology, tourism development and investment attraction.

Beyond the conference programme, Polokwane and the wider Limpopo Province will serve as living examples of regional tourism development. The destination has modern facilities for meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) along with access to rich biodiversity, wildlife experiences, and community-based tourism projects, giving delegates a direct look at how to develop sustainable tourism.

As preparations continue, Africa Tourism Partners are expected to announce additional speakers, programme details and strategic partners in the coming weeks.

Register to attend: https://www.tourismleadershipforum.africa/