Virtual trade show, OurAfrica.Travel, wrapped up its third annual event on April 1, after a successful few weeks of productive connection, say the organisers.
“We are both very happy with the way the show has gone. We have had struggles, but they are good struggles to have. People have been so busy with travelling, enquiries and bookings,” organiser Storm Napier told Tourism Update.
The event recorded over 33 000 visits to virtual booths and 128 524 profile views. There were 240 exhibitors, 518 buyers, a total of 9 794 meetings took place over 2 449 meeting hours, and there were 51 572 messages between participants.
Organiser Allie Hunt said there had been fewer participants than last year but the upside was that the exhibitors were inundated with new bookings and enquiries coming through.
“From my side, people see that this virtual show is a well-respected one. It has now completed its third show, with a reputation for quality buyers connecting with incredible properties and experiences around Africa and the Indian Ocean,” said Hunt.
Napier said highlights had been the many new properties coming online and the positive feedback from participants. “A lot of the exhibitors have had anywhere from 60 to 150 meetings for the duration of the show. We have also had phenomenal feedback from people saying they have generated new business. Three or four even received new bookings and new agents during the show.”
Hunt added that the timing of the show had worked out well, as it had coincided with the removal of PCR tests for South Africa, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe.
The organisers are now planning the fourth show. “We will be sending out a feedback survey to find what dates work for people, but we think this time of year is good,” said Napier. “We are also advocating the return of our physical shows, WTM, ILTM, We Are Africa, and Indaba. We support them 100%, because our industry is about connecting. We are providing that connection virtually, but we still believe there is a massive space for physical connection, and we want to push that as much as possible.”
