(Posted 05th June 2025)
Excitement is building in Johannesburg as the city gears up to welcome international delegates for the highly anticipated 7th edition of theAfrica Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge (www.youthtourismsummit.com).
Organisers and host partners are thrilled to announce an impressive lineup of global industry
thought leaders who will be sharing their insights at this transformative event from the 24th to
27 th June 2025 at the Midrand Conference Centre for an unforgettable experience.
This pivotal Summit, organized by Africa Tourism Partners in collaboration with UN Tourism,
AfCFTA, and BDO, serves as a cornerstone for innovation and inspiration in the tourism sector.
It will be hosted by South African Tourism, with essential partners across the nation. Notable
strategic partners include as the Namibia Tourism Board, Mercure Hotel Midrand, Reserved
Suites, and Inani Hotel, with Kenya Airways as the official airline partner. Don’t miss out on the
opportunity to connect, learn, and drive positive change in Africa’s tourism landscape.
Distinguished speakers for this year include UN Tourism Secretary General – H.E. Zurab
Pololikashvili, UN Tourism Director, Africa Department – Elcia Grandcourt, UN Tourism
Executive Director, Natalia Bayona, South African Tourism’s Chief Strategy Officer –
Siyabonga Mthethwa, Bheki Dube, Founder-Curiosity, Ross Volk, Managing Director of
MSC Cruises, Southern Africa, H.E Ambassador Albertus Aochamub, Ambassador, France
& Spain, Permanent Delegate of Namibia to UNESCO and UN Tourism, Connie-Marlene
Theyse, Head of Enterprise Banking FNB, Namibia, York Zucchi, Founder, Startup Tribe,
Italy, Mahider Tadesse, Founder, Hallpax, USA & Ethiopia, and Zainab A. Muntari, CEO,
Sixth African Region Initiatives, Ghana and Prof Kobby Mensah, FTDC, Ghana among
others.
The top 20 finalists for the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge are currently going
through a boot camp, with the assistance of their mentors. This stage enables the innovators to
fine tune their projects, ahead of the 2025 Pitch Battle – Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation
Challenge Demos & Lab scheduled for the 24th of June 2025.
Participants will immerse themselves in the youth and entrepreneurs MICE Masterclasses B2B
sessions, speed marketing, one-on-one meetings, career guidance clinic and brand activation
and many more activities lined up for this year’s Summit. The program has a mix of both
industry leaders and entry level youth to balance the discussions as Africa seeks to bring
actionable solutions to the challenges faced in the Tourism industry at all levels.
An overwhelming number of registrations from interested participants have been received
across the globe and pre-accreditation has commenced for the participants who have
confirmed attendance both physically and virtually. A few exhibition spots are still available for
grabs, visit https://youthtourismsummit.com/ to book space. Flights, accommodation and
various activities options are also available on our website as well as pre and post Summit tour
packages.
Click here to access pictures, videos and more information about the forthcoming Africa
Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit 2025.
