Hosted Buyer Program and Application

Why Participate as a Buyer?

The Africa’s Travel Indaba Buyer Programme is globally benchmarked and best-in-class. The team has carefully crafted the programme to encompass the most successful elements of all global shows, culminating in the Africa’s Travel Indaba Buyer Programme.

We provide our buyers with market access to the widest selection of quality, African products which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. The trade show plays host to more than 20 African countries and over 1 000 carefully curated leading tourism products. This includes accommodation partners, destination marketing companies, tour operators and rich and unique tourism experiences, indigenous to the continent.

Meetings with our exhibitors are supported by our best-in-class online diary and matchmaking system and a user-friendly mobile APP to ensure a seamless experience.

As a buyer, you gain access to our informal networking events and community-building activations. We also provide a platform for unique features such as our development zone and the sustainability village, where you can support local crafters, making a significant difference to the lives of ordinary South Africans.

As buyers, you can enjoy access to an exclusive buyer lounge, free Wi-Fi and a selection of authentic African and cosmopolitan cuisine. We offer an incredible hosting experience which takes care of your every need. Flights, accommodation and tour experiences are available based on the category of hosting you will be selected to participate in.

Why attend?
  • Its Africa’s top travel and tourism exhibition in the Southern Hemisphere
  • Engage with a variety of African tourism products across a vast array of price-points.
  • Keep abreast of global trends and new developments within the African tourism and travel industry
  • Meet industry stakeholders and decision makers face to face
  • Conduct business with new and existing clients
  • Gain competitive advantage with a view to becoming market leaders
  • Meet with over 1 000 exhibitors from a diverse range of destinations and industry sectors
  • Opportunity to network with key decision makers and stakeholders on an exciting and informative platform

Not only can you meet and network with the industry's key role players and decision-makers, but also consider all the continents leisure tourism options and negotiate the best deals on these products, all in one place.

Qualification requirements
  1. Must not have been hosted by South African Tourism at Africa’s Travel Indaba or Meetings Africa within the past two years.
  2. One applicant per organisation from the following categories:
    • A destination marketing company
    • Online booking company
    • Tour operator
    • Foreign travel agent
    • Airline
    • Transport
    • The organisation has given the applicant purchasing authority
Program Includes
  • Economy class flights from selected destinations (restrictions apply)
  • 5 night stay in a 4 star hotel
  • Transfers airport - hotel - exhibition
  • Access to the hosted buyer lounge (complimentary refreshments and WI-FI)
  • Invitations to various networking functions (restrictions apply)
  • Easy to use Online Diary and other digital platforms
  • Outstanding educational opportunities
Mandatory Requirements for Hosted Buyers

We request all hosted buyers to schedule and attend a minimum of 10 mandatory appointments per day, these being:

  • individual appointments with exhibitors of their choice
  • pre-scheduled group appointments (where applicable)
  • pre-scheduled presentations

These meetings need to be confirmed by exhibitors once done. The meeting slots cannot be blocked by buyers, preventing exhibitors from scheduling a meeting with you. The meetings may only be rescheduled under extenuating circumstances. Buyers may not leave the show early on the last day, provided that all mandatory meetings have been fulfilled. A financial penalty may be applied should a buyer default on their contractual obligations.

The aforementioned appointments must be scheduled via the Online Diary system. The Online Diary system also has a search functionality to filter by exhibitor, category, country and region making it easy for buyers to book all their appointments in advance.

  • Hosted Buyers also agree to making themselves available for any meetings and marketing events as SA Tourism deems appropriate and relevant.
Program Excludes
  • Meals (unless otherwise stated) and any personal extras including telephone, mini-bar, WI-FI etc. (these should be settled directly with the hotel upon your departure)
  • Hotel upgrades / flight upgrades
  • Taxi fares if arriving / departing outside Hosted Buyer Program dates
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visa application fees
  • Partners traveling accompanied by Hosted Buyers are responsible for own costs
Application and Registration Form

Please note that that your registration is not an invitation but an opportunity to consider your application as a hosted buyer. Successful applicants will be notified within 10 working days of receiving your application.