Collaboration between community role players and attractions to ensure the success of domestic tourism was the key message of Attractions Africa 2016, the continent’s leading attractions management event, held at the Double Tree by Hilton Cape Town from Wednesday 8 to Thursday 9 June, 2016.

 This year’s event attracted more than 100 delegates and prestigious speakers, including South Africa’s Minster of Tourism Derek Hanekom, City of Cape Town councillor Garreth Bloor, and the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA)’s Andreas Andersen.

The conference programme covered a range of pertinent topics for the attractions industry including accessibility for disabled visitors, community participation, seasonal recruitment, pricing strategies, identification of the emerging traveller and partnerships with travel bloggers.

“What struck me most about this year’s event was the theme of collaboration between attractions and communities and the natural curiosity that arises about such possible partnerships. We look forward to fostering this through the Attractions Africa conference going forward,” says Sabine Lehmann, Attractions Africa chair.

Minster Hanekom praised the event’s innovative outlook:   “I applaud the Attraction Africa team on their efforts to bring the attractions management industry together and I look forward to the outcomes of the discussions held here.”

Craig Allenby, of the National Zoological Gardens of South Africa and an Attractions Africa project team member, announced that the fourth annual Attractions Africa conference will be held in Tshwane in 2017.  

For more information about the Attractions Africa conference, please visit www.attractionsafrica.co.za or call +27 (0)21 683 2934.