Published on October 9, 2025
South African Tourism made a notable effect astatine nan 15th version of nan Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE), held from October 1 to 3, 2025, astatine Nairobi’s Uhuru Gardens. The event, which was officially opened by Kenya’s Deputy President, Rigathi Gachagua, attracted salient tourism stakeholders from crossed Africa and nan globe, highlighting nan continent’s increasing prominence successful nan world recreation market.
The first time of nan three-day expo was marked by an awesome surge successful business activity, pinch complete 400 one-on-one meetings taking spot betwixt South African tourism representatives and imaginable buyers. This beardown commencement indicated a surge of renewed assurance and caller opportunities successful Africa’s quickly evolving tourism industry.
South African Tourism showcased its beardown committedness to nan East African marketplace pinch a vibrant delegation of 17 South African Product Owners (SAPOs), representing a wide scope of nan country’s divers tourism offerings. Alongside them, cardinal manufacture partners specified arsenic Airlink, South African Airways (SAA), KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film, Wesgro – Cape Town and nan Western Cape, nan South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB), Marriott International, Southern Sun, ANEW Hotels & Resorts, and James iLenge Mountain Lodge, were connected manus to beforehand their respective services. Additionally, renowned circuit operators for illustration Buja Tours, Dinare Tours, Boyang Gape Tours & Travels, iXplore Africa, Legend Tours, Syavaya, Theo Tours, and nan Robben Island Museum contributed to South Africa’s vibrant beingness astatine nan expo.
A noteworthy facet of this year’s information was nan engagement of 10 Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) from South Africa. This reflects South African Tourism’s ongoing dedication to driving inclusive maturation and opening up caller marketplace opportunities. These enterprises displayed a rich | array of locally owned and operated recreation experiences that stress authenticity, creativity, and nan entrepreneurial tone that defines South Africa’s tourism sector.
“We are delighted pinch nan occurrence of Magical Kenya Travel Expo 2025,” said Evelyn Mahlaba, Regional General Manager: Africa astatine South African Tourism. “The value of engagements and beardown business liking reaffirm South Africa’s position arsenic a destination of prime and item nan value of strengthening partnerships wrong our continent.”
Mahlaba further underscored nan strategical value of Kenya wrong nan continent, noting: “Kenya remains 1 of our fastest-growing root markets, signaling 18.7% maturation successful arrivals compared to nan erstwhile year. With nan remainder of Africa now contributing much than 70% of each world arrivals to South Africa, we spot tremendous imaginable for continued collaboration and location growth.”
Boosting SMMEs Through Global Trade Exposure
South African Tourism’s engagement successful MKTE offered a valuable world shape for Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) to coming their offerings and found waste and acquisition links crossed borders.
“Participating successful MKTE has been a milestone for us,” said Excellent Madlala, Managing Director of James iLenge Mountain Lodge. “As a community-rooted endeavor from KwaZulu-Natal, this opportunity allowed america to stock our heritage-based offering and create caller partnerships that tin straight use our section economy.”
Bonolo Ntsime, Founder and Managing Director of iXplore Africa Travel & Tours, added: “Being portion of nan South African Pavilion gave america visibility successful a cardinal marketplace for illustration East Africa. It proved that erstwhile mini businesses are fixed entree to world platforms, they tin guidelines proudly alongside established brands; that’s nan principle of translator successful action.”
These occurrence stories exemplify South African Tourism’s attraction connected empowering section businesses, expanding waste and acquisition opportunities, and ensuring that tourism maturation is some sustainable and inclusive. “Our support for emerging tourism enterprises is simply a applicable illustration of really partnerships and inclusion tin unlock Africa’s tourism potential,” Mahlaba concluded. “Together, we are creating seamless recreation experiences that animate joyousness and fortify Africa’s position connected nan world stage.”
Fostering Africa’s Tourism Growth Through Collaboration
The South African Pavilion astatine MKTE went beyond waste and acquisition interactions, becoming a move hub for African collaboration. It brought together recreation professionals, media, and influencers done engaging activities, unrecorded contented creation, and networking opportunities.
The occurrence of nan Magical Kenya Travel Expo 2025 further solidified South African Tourism’s committedness to driving demand, fostering location integration, and boosting economical maturation done tourism. Building connected this success, South African Tourism will proceed to fortify its partnerships, support emerging businesses, and induce travelers from crossed Africa to research South Africa—a destination celebrated for its warmth, diversity, and nan joyousness of discovery.