Thebe Reed Exhibitions has announced Africa Travel Week - comprising ILTM Africa, IBTM Africa and WTM Africa - has received the full backing and support of the Western Cape Province and the City of Cape Town.

The strategic partnership in this long awaited inaugural three in one travel and tourism event, will ensure the City of Cape Town and the province as a whole can fully engage alongside the organisers to maximize the impact the region will have on the major features, events and experiences that all participants can enjoy during Africa Travel Week.

Africa Travel Week will be managed by the newly formed Thebe Reed Exhibitions in conjunction with Reed Exhibitions, and will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from April 28th to May 3rd 2014.

The event will comprise three co-located shows encompassing Africa’s inbound and outbound markets for general leisure travel, luxury tourism, and the MICE/business travel sector.

Citing the benefits such an event can bring to the city, councillor Grant Pascoe, mayoral committee member for tourism, events and marketing, said: “The benefits of hosting an event of this magnitude are boundless, not only for Cape Town but for the region and the continent. Cape Town will have the world leaders in luxury and business travel on our doorstep for a full week, including some 500 top travel buyers, 4,500 trade visitors, over 200 global media representatives and 2,000 exhibiting personnel.

“Through Africa Travel Week we are actively looking to position the City as a holistic destination that is more than just tourism.

“Cape Town is open for conferencing, trade, business meetings, leisure travel and so much more. The event also presents the City with a fantastic opportunity to showcase our new design inspired tourism products to international buyers in the year that Cape Town celebrates being the World Design Capital 2014.”