SATSA, the voice of inbound tourism in Southern Africa, welcomes the early announcement of the official 2026 dates for Meetings Africa and Africa’s Travel Indaba, describing it as a positive step towards improved industry alignment, forward planning, and stronger collaboration.
South African Tourism has confirmed:
- Meetings Africa 2026 will be held on 23–25 February, with BONDay on 23 February.
- Africa’s Travel Indaba 2026 will take place from 11–14 May, with BONDay on 11 May.
SATSA CEO David Frost, who serves on the Africa’s Travel Indaba Advisory Committee, commented: “We commend the Department of Tourism and South African Tourism for announcing the 2026 dates well in advance. This reflects a clear commitment to working more collaboratively with the tourism industry and responding to its needs — something we strongly advocated for earlier this year. Confirming dates well in advance enables stakeholders the time they need to plan more effectively and allocate budgets with greater certainty.”
In its March 2024 statement, SATSA emphasised the importance of timely planning, following delays in the communication and coordination of the 2025 trade shows. The 2026 announcement represents meaningful progress in listening to industry feedback — but ensuring that this momentum continues is crucial.
“We now urge South African Tourism to expedite the venue procurement process, ensuring that stakeholders can proceed with the logistical, marketing and business preparations these shows demand. Venue certainty is as vital as date confirmation in ensuring the integrity and credibility of these platforms is maintained,” Frost added.
These fixtures on the global tourism calendar serve as powerful economic catalysts, offering vital market access for African tourism products to connect with global buyers and new source markets. They stimulate economic activity across the value chain, while providing meaningful opportunities for local communities and SMMEs to participate in the tourism economy. Importantly, they also offer a platform to showcase the depth, diversity, and innovation of Africa’s tourism offering to the world.
“Let’s maintain this positive momentum by ensuring that 2026 is not only better coordinated, but also stronger in impact and purpose. SATSA remains a committed partner in ensuring that these events are inclusive, strategic and beneficial for the sector as a whole,” Frost concluded.
