Association Partners

The African Association of Visitor Experiences and Attractions (AAVEA) represents the interests of visitor experiences and attractions, raises awareness of the contribution they make to the broader tourism industry, and hosts an annual conference that provides education, networking, and collaboration opportunities. Our members are visitor experience and attraction professionals, tourism industry stakeholders, and suppliers to visitor experiences and attractions.

ABTA is the only Member-led Business Travel Association with a focus on Corporate Travel not only in South Africa but across the African Continent too. ABTA provides a platform for Corporate Travel Management education and sharing of best practice by hosting region-specific industry events and facilitating information flow utilising various platforms in countries across Africa including Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. Although ABTA initiatives are open and relevant to all industry sectors, educational focus is aimed towards the Corporate sector as we believe that a better educated buying community will drive the continued elevation and advancement of the business travel industry.

Founded in 1956, the Association of Southern African Travel Agents (ASATA) promotes professional service within the travel sector. Membership of ASATA is entirely voluntary and extends to South African Retail Travel Agents, Travel Management Companies and Wholesalers. Currently the Membership represents 95% of the industry.

The Africa Travel Association (ATA) is the leading global trade association promoting travel and tourism to Africa and strengthening intra-Africa partnerships, serving both the public and private sectors of the international travel and tourism industry. ATA partners with the African Union Commission to promote the sustainable development of tourism to and across Africa. ATA’s annual events bring together industry leaders to shape Africa’s tourism agenda.

Founded in 2018, the African Tourism Board an association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from the African region. The African Tourism Board is part of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP). The Association provides aligned advocacy, insightful research, and innovative events to its members. In partnership with private and public sector members, African Tourism Board (ATB) enhances the sustainable growth, value, and quality of travel and tourism to-from-and-within Africa. The Association provides leadership and counsel on an individual and collective basis to its member organizations. The Association is expanding on opportunities for marketing, public relations, investments, branding, promoting and establishing niche markets.

Africa Tourism Partners is a Pan-African tourism advisory services provider. Using established global strategic networks, we deliver unique programmes to grow and profile your business. Based in Johannesburg, South Africa, we have country offices and partners in Angola, Botswana, China, Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Singapore, UK, Scotland, Tanzania, USA and Zimbabwe.

Fair Trade Tourism is a non-profit organisation promoting best-practice responsible tourism in Africa. We grow awareness about responsible tourism in Africa and assist tourism businesses to operate more sustainably through our membership and certification programmes.

Since 1949, FEDHASA is recognised by Government and industry players as the official VOICE and lobbying body for the S.A. hospitality industry, representing accommodation- & catering establishments, industry suppliers and upcoming leaders of industry, through our young professionals segment. FEDHASA also has a second registration as Employers’ Body, giving you the right to representation at the CCMA. We also offer cost-saving benefits to our members, most of which cover your annual membership fees and more.

The Hospitality and Tourism Association of Botswana (HATAB) exists to promote, encourage and police excellence in hospitality and tourism in Botswana. It is HATAB's role to ensure that all visitors, both from within and from outside Botswana, enjoy consistently high standards of service from the entire hospitality and tourism industry. The Association is an umbrella organization representing all sectors of the industry. Privately established and funded, it is the governing body for all its members.

IGLTA was founded in 1983 and is the world's leading network of LGBTQ+ welcoming tourism businesses. We provide free travel resources and information while continuously working to promote equality and safety within LGBTQ+ tourism worldwide. IGLTA's members include LGBTQ+ friendly accommodations, transport, destinations, service providers, travel agents, tour operators, events and travel media located in over 80 countries.

The STPP in collaboration with the International Committee of Tourism Film Festivals (CIFFT) will bring the unique film festival to Africa. Film festivals are a growing international phenomenon that provides critical market access to outlying tourism destinations while at the same time providing tourism revenue for towns where the festivals are hosted. Due to their level of exposure, film festivals are becoming an indispensible tool for exposing attractive (but previously unknown) destinations to a broad spectrum of tourists, including film producers . Film festivals create critical links between tourists and the communities they visit, providing future tourism development opportunities within those communities.

The Kenya Association of Travel Agents is the national umbrella body for Travel Agents in Kenya, with a growing membership of over 170 Travel Agencies, and is Kenya’s largest and only membership organization for travel agents. KATA transitioned from a society to a company limited by guarantee in September 2018, providing more space for growth and defending the travel trade. KATA is a member of the Universal Federation of Travel Agents’ Association (UFTAA), which represents 84 countries. It also hosts the Secretariat of the Association of Eastern and Southern African Travel Agents (AESATA).

In the Kilimanjaro region, on the grounds of Moshi Golf Club sports ground in the shanty town, the international fair of the tourism industry, the KILIFAIR, takes place. About 180 exhibitors, including tourism organisations, tour operators, owners of hotels and lodges as well as equipment suppliers involved in the tourism industry present their products and services to an audience of more than 3,000 trade visitors and the public.

By bringing LGBT-owned and -welcoming businesses together, we are able to offer visitors great local offers and in doing so support economic growth. The KwaZulu-Natal Gay & Lesbian Tourism Association (KZNGALTA) is primarily non-profit business association that operates in the South African travel sector as a Community Tourism Organisation (CTO). We were established in 2004 and have been in operation for over 15 years now, with growth in our activities, reach and membership taking off in the past few years alone.

National Accommodation Association of South Africa (NAA-SA) drives the visibility, quality and concerns of Guest Houses, B&B’s and self-catering accommodation in South Africa. We are the leading organisation for the smaller accommodation sector and we are focused on providing visitors with an unforgettable experience of South Africa! Guest Houses and B&B’s have grown a lot in sophistication over the past years and they offer a completely different experience than a hotel.

SAACI is the recognised umbrella body of the Conference and Meetings Industry in Southern Africa. Since 1987 we have been dedicated to efficiency and professionalism in the industry. In fact, SAACI membership is a vital recognition of professionalism practice. SAACI has a national board and four regional branches- Northern Territories (including Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Botswana and Namibia). Eastern Cape, Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Each branch is made up of specialist forums that represent specific industry sectors- Conferences & Events, Destination Marketing, Exhibitions, Services, Technical, Transport and Venues.

Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA) is a member-driven credibility association that strives to set the highest standards in the Tourism Industry. This year’s annual SATSA Conference will be held from 16 – 18 August at Spier, Stellenbosch. The theme for the conference is “Transforming for Inclusive Growth”. To register to attend.

Seeza Tourism SME Network seeks to strengthen the international competitiveness of tourism SMEs. Its founding and operating philosophy is that SMMEs are more competitive when operating collaboratively than individually. Through collaboration SMEs combine their individual resources and capabilities and access opportunities that might otherwise be out of their reach when operating individually.