Women in Tourism Southern Africa
Summit and Exhibition 2022

Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre OR Tambo South Africa

15-17 SEPTEMBER 2022

ACCELERATING REGIONAL TOURISM SECTOR RECOVERY

Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre OR Tambo South Africa

Download Brochure
Delegate Registration
Exhibitor Registration
Media Registration and Accreditation

ABOUT WOMEN IN TOURISM SOUTHERN AFRICA

Women in Tourism Southern Africa (WITSA) is a Forum that advocates for Women in the Tourism Value Chain sector in the Region. It  drives the programmes that promotes Tourism within the Region under the auspices of SADC Secretariat and Women of Value Southern Africa.

It is currently housed under Women of Value Southern Africa, an organization in partnership with SADC Secretariat and AU-APRM to implement women economic empowerment in the Region.

WITSA hosts annual event within the Region and works with key stakeholders in the Tourism Sector including the women in Tourism Associations.

Its main focus is to bring key stakeholders in the sector together to forge strategic partnerships and contribute to the regional economic growth.

The Forum hosts Annual Summits, Exhibitions and Intra-Regional Trade and Investment Tours. The annual event will rotate within the SADC Member States through a bidding process. The bidding process will be done during the Summit on annual basis.

ABOUT THE SUMMIT

WITSA will be hosting its first Annual Summit and Exhibition.

The 2022 three-day Inaugural Annual Summit is planned to take place in South Africa from 15 – 17 September

The three-day Summit will host the SADC Stakeholders Dialogue Session, Leadership Roundtable, Regional Women in Tourism Awards Launch, Plenary Sessions, Exhibitions, Culture and Heritage Celebration, to name a few.

The Summit is envisaged to host between 250 – 350 delegates and is to be attended by Women in Business, Local & International Buyers, Exhibitors, Ministers of Tourism, Tourism Boards Directors, SADC Secretariat Directors, AU-APRM Executives, Corporate Executive and Managers, Funding Institutions Managers, and Academia.

Since September is Heritage Month in South Africa, the three-day Summit includes a Culture and Heritage Day Celebration on the third day where South Africa and other African Countries will showcase their cultures, heritage and local cuisines.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SUMMIT

  1. Gather key tourism stakeholders together to create an ecosystem environment in developing Women and Youth in Tourism

  2. Create opportunity for businesses in the sector’s value chain to showcase their products and services

  3. Platform for dialogues around current and future that will contribute towards the sustainability of the tourism sector

  4. Platform to recognize women and stakeholders on the role they play in the Regional Tourism through annual awards

  5. Create awareness on SADC Industrialisation Programme with the focus on women in the Southern African Region

EVENT FORMAT

SUMMIT

  • Leaders Dialogue – Women in Tourism Southern Region Awards Launch
  • Presentations And Panel Discussions
  • Master Class
  • Gala Dinner
  • Award Launch

EXHIBITIONS

  • Exhibitions: Pop-up Markets
  • B2B Meetings

EXCURSIONS

  • LEISURE, CULTURE & HERITAGE TOURS

PROGRAM

DAY 1

DAY 2

DAY 3

WITSA INAUGURAL & SEMINAR

SEMINAR & CLOSING CEREMONY GALA DINNER

CULTURE & HERITAGE CELEBRATION

15 Sep 2022

16 Sep 2022

17 Sep 2022

SESSION 1: 08:15 – 10:15 

  • Opening & Introduction: SADC Secretariat
  • Acknowledgement of guests: SA Tourism
  • Purpose Of The Conference: WOVSA
  • Speech: Minister of Tourism SADC Executive Secretary
  • Key Note Address: Minister Of Tourism South Africa

Session 1 

  • Opening & Introduction
  • Acknowledgement Of Guests

Panel discussion

  • Promoting Intra-Regional Tourism Trade & Investment Opportunities
  • Showcase African Culture, Heritage & African Cuisine

SESSION 2: 10:30 – 12:30

  • SADC Stakeholders Dialogue
  • Leadership Roundtable: Ministers and Women in Leadership: Identify the Current State of Women in Tourism Post Covid19 and Uncover Regional Opportunities
  • Regional Ecosystem Enterprise and Supplier Development Programme Launch

Session 2

Panel Discussion

  • Rebranding and Marketing Southern Africa Regional Tourism
  • Technology Trends in Tourism Industry
  • Niche Tourism Value Chain Sector Opportunities: Bleisure, Creative Tourism, Agri-Tourism, Sports and Religious Tourism
  • Plan of action

SESSION 3: 14:00 – 16:30

  • Masterclasses

Session 3: CLOSING CEREMONY GALA DINNER

  • WITSA AWARDS Launch
  • Announcement of Women in Tourism Southern Africa Steering Committee
  • BIDDING & Announcement of 2023 Women in Tourism Southern Africa Summit Hosting Country

STRATEGIC PARTNERS & KEY STAKEHOLDERS

  • National Department of Tourism
  • Regional Ministries of Women
  • Regional MinistrIES of Tourism
  • SADC Secretariat
  • UNWTO
  • AU-APRM
  • AfCTA
  • Government Agencies
  • Regional Women Associations
  • Tourism Boards and Associations
  • South Africa Women Association
  • Women in Tourism South Africa
  • South Africa Provincial Tourism Boards
  • Women of Value Southern Africa
  • Airlines
  • Financiers
  • Private Sectors (Regional Businesses)
  • SMMEs / Co-ops
  • Academic Institutions
  • Business Associations
  • Exhibitors
  • Airlines

WHO TO ATTEND

  • Ministers of Tourism
  • SADC Secretariat
  • UNWTO Africa Regional Director
  • AU-APRM: CEO
  • Tourism Boards Directors, CEOs and Executive
  • Women of Value Southern Africa: Executive Committee
  • Regional Women Association: Members
  • Government Agencies Representatives
  • Private Sectors Executives
  • Financiers Representatives
  • SMMEs / Co-ops
  • Academic Institutions Professors
  • Business Associations CEOs and Members
  • Exhibitors
  • Buyers

VALUE PROPOSITION

  • Platform to empower Women in Tourism Value Chain.
  • Platform to open dialogues amongst key stakeholders to share current trade and investment opportunities in the Region through tourism.
  • B2B meetings and networking opportunities with local and international potential investors and buyers
  • Increased regional brand visibility
  • Media interview opportunities during the event.
  • Promotion during media interviews
  • Enterprise & Supplier Development opportunities for local SMMEs
  • Platform for information sharing
  • Local culture, heritage & tourism promotions

ECONOMIC SPIN-OFFS

Accommodation

Please click here to book your accommodation at Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre OR Tambo. Private access code is NKPI22