AFRICA Q&A
MOROCCAN NATIONAL TOURISM OFFICE (AF300)
Adel el Fakir, CEO
What’s the biggest news of 2019? Morocco has been chosen as the host country for the UNWTO annual meeting in 2021, the Abta Travel Convention in 2020 and has hosted the International Gold Travel Market in October, showing it is emerging as a major destination for MICE.
Which markets are you looking to target in 2020? We will focus
RAHISI TOURS (AF555)
Stephanie Scawen, director
on consolidating France and Spain, developing the UK and Germany, and accelerating the emergence of the US and China.
What initiatives are in the pipeline? We will launch a new global brand campaign as well as Taghazout, a new beach resort in Agadir.
What makes Rahisi Tours unique? Disability does not mean inability – I will keep repeating this every single day. Not every disabled person will be able to travel, or perhaps want to, but for the adventurous wheelchair-bound traveller like myself, everyone at Rahisi Tours is eager to make sure they enjoy their safari as much as their able-bodied counterparts. I am one of the few, if not only, disabled safari tour operators in Kenya, so I understand first-hand the challenge it entails.
What does 2020 hold? I will keep spreading the word about the accessible market and aim to expand our market share. Plus we have added two new tours in time for WTM London to illustrate our commitment to our belief the disabled market will grow.
SOMA BAY (AF240)
Ibrahim El Missiri, CEO
What’s been your biggest achievement in 2019? We’re delighted to have unveiled our new lifestyle brand, Mesca – Somabay’s exclusive beachfront enclave with hotel, private residences and cabanas.
Are you running any sustainable initiatives? We are continuing to stand by our motto of “outstanding by nature”; the aim is to have 20% of the destination running on solar energy by the end of the year, and all single- use plastic will be banned
across the whole peninsula by the end of 2020.
What are your plans for 2020? We will continue enhancing our golf offering. We have a third nine- hole golf course due for completion in March – it will be floodlit for night golf games, which is exciting.
WILDERNESS SAFARIS (AF531)
Roberto Viviani, sales and marketing manager UK and EU
What have the highlights been in 2019? Wilderness Safaris’ Jao Camp in Botswana’s Okavango Delta was rebuilt in July. It’s 100% solar-powered with conservation surveys in place. Also relaunched in July, Kings Pool at Linyanti in Botswana is best for a once-in-a-lifetime safari experience.
What messages are you sharing at WTM London? We’ll be showcasing how
we ensure top-quality experiences while keeping conservation a focus.
What developments are there in 2020? Dumatau and Little Dumatau will reopen in Botswana in August 2020, while Little Kulala in Namibia is also a new opening.
66 WTM OFFICIAL EVENT DAILY 05.11.2019
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