CAPE TOWN — Mpumalanga is set to take centre stage at the World Travel Market (WTM) Africa 2026, as the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) prepares to showcase the province’s diverse tourism offerings to a global audience.
Scheduled to take place from 13 to 15 April 2026 in Cape Town, the annual trade exhibition remains Africa’s leading business-to-business platform for both inbound and outbound tourism. Held under the theme “Your Gateway to Global Journey”, this year’s edition is expected to attract more than 6 000 travel industry professionals, providing a critical space for deal-making, networking and strategic partnerships.
MTPA will lead a delegation of tourism products, while the Kruger Lowveld Chamber of Business and Tourism (KLCBT) will support 18 additional exhibitors from across the province. Together, they represent a broad spectrum of Mpumalanga’s tourism economy, from luxury lodges and adventure experiences to tour operators and hospitality groups.
Among the exhibitors supported by MTPA are Canuel Tours, Cliff Signature Tours, Dees African Spa, Ebundu Lodge, Gert Sibande District Municipality, Hotel 247, Kim Leisure Travel, KM Tours, Kruger Specials, Survey Mash Tours, TFO Komala Hotel, Mpumalanga’s nature reserves and Tingana Global Travel.
In addition, Kruger Lowveld Tourism, a division of KLCBT, will showcase a further group of tourism products from the Ehlanzeni region. These include Blyde Canyon Adventure Centre, Ehlanzeni District Municipality, GAP Tours & Transfers, Gecko Lodge, Grand Kruger Lodge, Graskop Gorge Lift Co., Graskop Hotel, Hamiltons Lodge & Restaurant, Hazyview Hospitality Group, La Villa Vita Boutique Hotel and Spa, Malaga by Moyres, Maqueda Lodge, Misty Mountain, Nkorho Bush Lodge, Pondoro Game Lodge, Timamoon Lodge, Tomjachu Bush Retreat and Unembeza Boutique Lodge & Spa.
The exhibition will be hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), where visitors are invited to engage directly with exhibitors at Stand P08 and R11, explore new partnerships and identify investment opportunities. The exhibition is positioned not only as a promotional effort, but as a collaborative platform to grow tourism and strengthen industry relationships.
This collective presence underscores a clear ambition to position Mpumalanga as a premier destination for both leisure travel and investment. Renowned for its proximity to the Kruger National Park and attractions such as the Blyde River Canyon, the province is leveraging the platform to amplify its global visibility.
According to MTPA Acting CEO Lemmy Mdluli, participation in the event is both strategic and necessary.
“This platform creates meaningful opportunities for our tourism products to access global markets,” he said, highlighting the agency’s commitment to supporting both SMMEs and established businesses. “It is through initiatives like these that we can attract investment and drive sustainable job creation.”
Beyond the exhibition floor, MTPA has scheduled engagements with international buyers from key markets, including the Netherlands, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany, reflecting a targeted strategy to expand Mpumalanga’s global tourism footprint.
The event also aligns with broader industry reflections. Insights from The Africa Travel Week State of the Industry Report 2025, unveiled at the previous edition, continue to shape conversations across the sector. The report calls on African tourism stakeholders to move beyond outdated models and embrace innovation, inclusivity and technology-driven strategies.
In this evolving landscape, WTM Africa serves not only as a marketplace, but as a catalyst for transformation. With sustainability, digital integration and authentic cultural experiences taking centre stage, destinations like Mpumalanga are being challenged to rethink how tourism is developed, marketed and experienced.
As global travel rebounds and competition intensifies, Mpumalanga’s presence at WTM Africa 2026 signals a proactive step towards securing its place in the international tourism economy — where opportunity lies not only in attracting visitors, but in shaping the future of travel.
