SATSA, the voice of inbound tourism in Southern Africa, has unveiled the full programme for its flagship annual conference, bringing together an exceptional line-up of business leaders, destination specialists, conservation pioneers, hospitality executives and tourism innovators to explore the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of tourism in the region.

Taking place from 19–21 August 2026 at Southern Sun Cape Sun, the conference will provide a platform for industry collaboration, strategic discussion and practical insight at a time when tourism businesses are navigating changing global markets, technological advances, conservation priorities and evolving traveller expectations.

Among those taking to the stage are some of South Africa’s most respected business, destination and tourism leaders, including Marcel von Aulock, Chief Executive Officer of Southern Sun; Adrian Enthoven, Executive Chairman of Yellowwoods and Family Owner of Spier Wine Farm; Graham Wood, Chief Executive Officer of the V&A Waterfront; Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth, City of Cape Town; Enver Duminy, Chief Executive Officer of Cape Town Tourism; and Rashid Toefy, Deputy Director General: Economic Development and Tourism, Western Cape Government.

Joining them are respected leaders from organisations including SANParks, Rhino Africa, Africa’s Eden, Wesgro, Dream Hotels & Resorts, the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa, Nielsen Sports, Londolozi, Wild Wings Safaris, Isibindi Africa Lodges and Motsamayi Tourism Group, reflecting the breadth of expertise represented across the programme.

The programme explores some of the defining issues shaping tourism today, including:

• SANParks at 100: Legacy, Growth and the Road Ahead
• The South African Business Landscape: Navigating Change and Creating Opportunity
• The V&A Waterfront: Reinvention, Relevance and the Road Ahead
• Panorama Reimagined & Wild Eastern Cape: Destination Reinvention and Regional Competitiveness
• The Collaboration Advantage: How Government and Industry Are Building a Common Roadmap for Tourism Growth
• Beyond the Middle East Horizon: New Markets, New Routes and the Courage to Grow
• Reimagining Tourism, Together: Building a More Competitive, Connected and Inclusive Southern Africa

According to SATSA CEO David Frost, the conference has been designed to bring together the ideas, people and partnerships that will help shape the future of tourism.

“Tourism has always been one of South Africa’s greatest strengths, but the environment in which we operate is changing rapidly. Success will increasingly depend on our ability to collaborate, adapt and embrace new ways of thinking. SATSA Conference 2026 brings together the people, ideas and partnerships that will help shape tourism’s next chapter. More than a conference, it is where our industry comes together to challenge thinking, build relationships and create momentum for the future.”

SATSA Chairperson Oupa Pilane said the programme reflects both the diversity and strength of Southern Africa’s tourism sector.

“This year’s programme has been carefully curated to bring together some of the most influential voices from across business, conservation, government and tourism. By creating space for meaningful dialogue and practical insight, we hope delegates leave not only inspired, but equipped with new ideas, stronger partnerships and renewed confidence in the future of our industry.”

The full conference programme and registration details are available here.

About SATSA

SATSA is the voice of inbound tourism in Southern Africa, representing over 1,200 quality assured members across the tourism value chain. As a trusted mark of credibility, SATSA-member businesses are vetted annually with stringent financial checks and adhere to a strict Code of Conduct, ensuring high ethical and operational standards. SATSA continually works to promote responsible tourism and protect travellers from fraudulent activity within the industry. https://www.satsa.com/

Media Contact

Kim Taylor | Strategic Communications and Marketing Manager, SATSA

kim@satsa.co.za

Now in their third year, the awards recognise outstanding organisations and individuals driving positive environmental, social and economic impact across Africa’s tourism sector and received more than 100 entries across ten categories.

Each winner received a trophy handcrafted by the FlipFlopi Project – an East African movement dedicated to ending single-use plastic pollution through community-led circular economies. Makers of the world’s first recycled plastic sailing dhow, the FlipFlopi Project embodies the values these awards exist to celebrate. The trophies were revealed for the first time on the night.

2026 ATTA® for Action Award Winners

• ATTA® Purpose & People Award — TAMàNA (Madagascar)
• ATTA® Earthkeepers Award — Gamewatchers Safaris (Kenya)
• ATTA® Eco-Innovation Award — Porini Safari Camps, Gamewatchers Safaris (Kenya)
• ATTA® Zero Waste Trailblazer Award — Sirikoi Lodge (Kenya)
• ATTA® Community Upliftment Award — Nomad Tanzania (Tanzania)
• ATTA® Marine Impact Award — andBeyond (South Africa)
• ATTA® Collaborative Impact Award — The Safari Collection (Kenya)
• ATTA® Traveller Education and Awareness Award — Blood Lions and Marine Dynamics (South Africa) (joint winners)
• ATTA® Media Voice for Action Award — Marco Barneveld, Wide Oyster Media (Netherlands)
• ATTA® Emerging Changemaker Award — Travel4Purpose (Kenya)

Each award category was assessed against rigorous criteria designed to identify organisations delivering measurable impact. From ethical wildlife experiences and marine conservation initiatives to community empowerment programmes, circular economy innovations and traveller education campaigns, the awards recognise leadership that goes beyond aspiration and demonstrates tangible outcomes.

The joint award in the Traveller Education and Awareness category – shared by Blood Lions and Marine Dynamics – was a direct reflection of the quality of entries. The judges recognised the two organisations as excelling in distinct but equally vital dimensions of the same challenge: one for advocacy and policy change, the other for direct traveller engagement and measurable conservation outcomes.

This year also marks the first time in the awards’ history that a single organisation has won across two categories in the same year. Gamewatchers Safaris and their Porini Safari Camps claimed both the Earthkeepers and Eco-Innovation Awards – a result that speaks to the depth and consistency of a conservation model nearly three decades in the making. In 2024, the inaugural year of the awards, they were recognised for their collaborative approach. TAMàNA, meanwhile, returns as a multi-year winner, claiming the Eco-Innovation Award in 2025 and, this year, recognised for heritage tourism leadership in an entirely different category. Marine Dynamics similarly becomes a two-time winner across the awards’ history, previously recognised for marine conservation and this year for traveller education – a testament to the breadth of their work.

Virginia Messina, Group CEO of ATTA®, said: “The ATTA® for Action Awards exist to celebrate the organisations and individuals proving that tourism can be one of Africa’s most powerful forces for positive change. Across the continent, we continue to see extraordinary leadership in conservation, community empowerment, cultural preservation and environmental innovation. In many ways, African tourism businesses have been pioneering responsible tourism practices for decades, often developing solutions that the wider global industry is only now beginning to embrace.

“As an association, we will continue to champion evidence-based responsible tourism, showcase innovation from across Africa, and provide our members with the knowledge, tools and inspiration they need to thrive in a rapidly changing landscape. The future of African tourism depends on protecting the very people, places and wildlife that make the continent so extraordinary, and these winners are showing what that future can look like.”

The ATTA® for Action Awards form part of ATTA®’s broader commitment to advancing responsible tourism across Africa and supporting members in creating measurable, positive impact for people, places and the planet.

For a full list of winners and finalists, visit: https://awards.atta.travel/winners-finalists-2026/

ENDS

High res images can be found here

ABOUT ATTA®

The African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA®) is the leading trade association promoting tourism to Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. Through its global membership spanning the entire tourism ecosystem, strategic partnerships and internationally recognised events, ATTA® connects African tourism businesses with buyers, media and industry leaders worldwide, helping drive sustainable growth and opportunity across the continent. 
For more information, visit atta.travel.

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Issued by: Big Ambitions Brenda Walters
Email: brenda@bigambitions.co.za
Tel: +27 76 061 3114

The recognition in Indaba’s Inspirational Awards rounds off a landmark 12 months for the EcoTraining team.

In the past year, EcoTraining became the first and only field guidetraining provider in South Africa to offer university-level NQF5 qualifications accredited by the Council on Higher Education.

In September, it was named Best Education Study Abroad Provider at the 2025 Global Youth Travel Awards in Lisbon.

Now, South African Tourism has recognised the organisation for innovation in conservation education through its Inspirational Awards.

Bringing the bush to a global audience

Over 33 years, EcoTraining has trained more than 17,000 people from 33 countries at its immersive, unfenced camps in South Africa, Botswana and Kenya. Its graduates lead safaris across the continent. Close to a thousand have come from China alone, returning home as guides and guardians of the African wilderness.

The Indaba judges recognised the way EcoTraining is opening the world of conservation to people who can’t always reach the bush. In 2023, it launched the Online Field & Trails Guide Programme, making FGASA-accredited training available anywhere through virtual classrooms, live lectures and field videos, with the option to follow up with an immersive in-camp practical.

Other online courses, including the newly launched Inside the Pride, which explores the evolution, ecology and behaviour of lions, allow guides, wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists to broaden their knowledge and safeguard Africa’s vulnerable species and natural heritage – alongside courses in ecology, wildlife photography, birding and tracking, designed for travellers who want to add more onto a traditional Big-5 safari.

Recognition with a wider message

The Indaba Inspirational Awards honour innovation, inspiration, empowerment, and excellence across African tourism, and the recognition means a great deal to the entire team.

“Three achievements in a single year tell us something bigger is happening,” says EcoTraining’s MD, Anton Lategan. “People want travel that means something. They want to understand the places they visit and leave them better than they found them. Our job is to keep building the courses, camps, guides and advocates that make that possible.” EcoTraining has delivered guide training in eight countries over the last year and is honoured to train the safari guides of A&K Sanctuary, Londolozi, Great Plains Botswana, the Female Nature Guide Training Programme of African Bush Camps Foundation, and many other top safari organisations. Alongside this, EcoTraining’s wider course range continues to grow, with career courses for school leavers, guides, career-changers, gap year students, mature learners and lifelong conservationists, online and in the bush.

These defining features remain the same, but this year, something has shifted in where people are choosing to go and what they want to do when they get there.

“We’re seeing a genuine and growing appetite for experiences that deliver something beyond game drives,” says Antoinette Turner, General Manager, Flight Centre South Africa. “Local travellers are choosing unhurried safaris that prioritise ecological integrity and active participation over passive observation.”

Flight Centre’s Global PR Survey reinforces this. South African travellers rank the most likely of any market globally to prioritise restful, sustainable holiday experiences.

The conversation is simultaneously happening at an industry level. At World Travel Market (WTM) Africa this year, one of the most debated sessions, Nature on Demand: The High Cost of Instant Gratification in African Wildlife Tourism, took direct aim at ambiguous conservation and the high-turnover safari model that has long dominated parts of the market.

Kgomotso Ramothea, CEO, African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA®), confirmed the message: “When wildlife tourism optimises purely for guaranteed sightings and fast turnarounds, the ecosystems bearing that weight eventually pay for it. The alternative now is deliberate, more embedded experiences, which is gaining serious ground.”

This shift is playing out across the continent in ways that feel both subtle, yet significant. Below are some examples of where travellers are turning their attention this year, according to Flight Centre’s Travel Experts.

Madikwe, South Africa

Madikwe Game Reserve is malaria-free and sees a fraction of the traffic that the Greater Kruger corridor does. That alone makes it worth considering this season. For guests who want to do more than just observe, Morukuru Family offers a “Safari with a Purpose” add-on.

According to Co-Founder and Co-Owner, Ed Zeeman, visitors aren’t simply briefed on conservation here; they are immersed in the objectives and outcomes. This means understanding how animal tracking data informs protection strategies on the ground and spending hands-on time with researchers and anti-poaching units. 

“This is not a staged conservation theatre experience,” he says. “Collaring happens whether guests are there or not. What the package offers is access. Guests may find themselves at eye level with a darted lion while a veterinary team fits a tracking collar, or in the field during a rhino notching procedure.”

South Africa’s Waterberg region

The malaria-free Marakele National Park sits inside the UNESCO Waterberg Biosphere, just four hours from Johannesburg. It’s consistently underreported in South African travel media, which makes it worth exploring this safari season.

The park occupies a transition zone between the country’s dry west and wetter east, which produces unusual biodiversity: rare yellowwood and cedar trees, and what is considered one of the world’s largest breeding colonies of Cape vultures. Days here are structured around stillness rather than volume, with stargazing and astronomy tours, bush walks led by FGASA-accredited field guides, and river-based exploration via Marataba Game Lodges’ Miss Mara water safari.

“People don’t just want proximity to wildlife,” says Robert More, Custodian and CEO, MORE Collection. “They want to understand the systems that sustain it. Safaris here centre less on ticking off species, and more on understanding wildlife behaviour, terrain, and seasonal rhythms.”

Tanzania’s Olduvai Gorge

Delving into the mysteries of Olduvai Gorge reinforces that a safari in Africa doesn’t have to revolve around animal sightings alone. Set within the Great Rift Valley, this significant paleoanthropological site was made famous by the discovery of fossils and tools from early hominids. It offers a different kind of safari immersion, one that tells deeply human stories about the past, while prompting questions about our place in the world today.

“Many travellers don’t know about it; others are slowly catching on. It makes for an intriguing and scenic slowed-down stopover between the Ngorongoro Conservation Area and the Serengeti. If you’re lucky, you might even get to watch archaeologists working on an active dig,” comments Turner.

Olduvai Gorge reflects exactly what travellers are now looking for in safari add-ons, and aligns with findings from Go2Africa’s latest State of Safari report, which highlights a rising demand for low-density, high-immersion experiences.

Ol Pejeta Conservancy, Kenya

In Kenya’s conservancies, traveller access is increasingly tied to community-owned land models, where tourism revenue directly supports local livelihoods. These aren’t new ideas, but they’re becoming more visible, and South African safari-goers are taking an interest in the realities of land management, community partnerships, and conservation-led storytelling.

The Ol Pejeta Conservancy is a good example of this. It began as a working cattle ranch and is now home to the last surviving northern white rhinos and the largest black rhino sanctuary in East Africa. This destination departs from the traditional safari template with unique offerings such as specialised birding walks, lion tracking, and an interactive experience with bloodhounds trained to sniff out wildlife threats. There’s also the Sweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary, established in partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute, where guests can learn about the rescued chimps in residence.

“What connects Ol Pejeta and the above-mentioned destinations and activities is a shift in what travellers consider worth paying for,” Turner says. “The modern safari is becoming less transactional and more relational, rewarding patience. It asks more of the traveller: attention, time, curiosity, and in return, it offers something deeper than spectacle.”

The dry season is soon arriving, and South Africans are already booking. But unlike previous years, those decisions are being shaped by a clearer set of priorities.

“This isn’t a shift just in where safaris happen, but in how they’re experienced, and as this season unfolds, that distinction is becoming the defining feature of Africa’s modern safari,” Turner concludes.

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Cape Town: The WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards 2026 were presented today at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, recognising 22 organisations across 13 countries who are delivering measurable impact for people, places and nature.

The ceremony was MC-ed by Rachel Nxele, board member of SANParks, with special guest speaker Alderman James Vos, Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth at the City of Cape Town. The awards span five categories – Championing Cultural Diversity; Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; Local Economic Benefit; Nature Positive; and Regenerative Tourism – and are run in partnership with the International Centre for Responsible Tourism (ICRT).

“These awards are both celebration and evidence – recognising those organisations that are building dignity, protecting nature and honouring heritage.” – Rachel Nxele, board member, SANParks; MC, WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards 2026

Nxele framed the awards around a single, challenging question: can you prove it? “The awards recognise real work, real commitment and real impact,” she said. “The work that happens when no-one is watching.”

Alderman James Vos echoed that emphasis on demonstrable outcomes. The awards, he said, are “about showing impact” – because if you cannot show impact, it means “nothing to no-one”.

Vos described the awards as an important showcase of “how it can be done and how it should be done” and called on the industry to build more “tourism-preneurs” – to create greater longevity and broader economic opportunity.

THE TROPHIES

This year’s winners received trophies that are, in themselves, a statement of intent.

Gold and silver winners received handmade protea trophies crafted by Cape Gypsea, each one unique. The delicate inner petals are formed from the pages of recycled books; the bold outer petals from vibrant Shweshwe fabric, locally sourced with a focus on eco-conscious biodegradability. Together, they bring past and present into a single object – forgotten stories and living African tradition, side by side.

Organisations recognised as “One-to-Watch” received a bottle of Painted Wolf Wines, which is this year celebrating 20 years of wines for conservation. The company takes its name from Lycaon pictus – the scientific name for the African wild dog – and has donated 4% of sales to conservation since it was founded. By supporting African wild dogs, that support flows throughout the ecosystems and communities that share wild spaces across the continent.

THE 2026 RESPONSIBLE TOURISM WINNERS

The 2026 WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Award Gold winners are:

Ele Collection Zimbabwe – Nature Positive
Plastic waste is transformed into construction grade aggregate, reducing extraction pressure on natural systems while providing income to community collectors and educating visitors through factory tours. The judges praised the circular model for turning a major environmental threat into longterm infrastructure value while strengthening community livelihoods.

RuralRevive Namibia – Regenerative Tourism
RuralRevive’s “Building a Desert Based Economy Initiative” is conceptualised and driven by the Wolwedans Foundation. It is transforming the tourism economy around Maltahöhe through climate appropriate horticulture, local enterprise development and systems that reconnect tourism with community livelihoods. The judges recognised Rural Revive for addressing deep-rooted structural challenges by rebuilding local food systems, restoring dignity through work and creating a resilient desert based economy.

Saruni Basecamp Kenya – Regenerative Tourism
A community conservancy model has generated more than 1.5 million dollars for 6,605 landowners, conserved more than 414,000 hectares and embedded regenerative food systems and women’s economic empowerment across 13 camps. The judges commended Saruni Basecamp for demonstrating how long-term lease agreements and bed night fees can secure large and connected landscapes for wildlife, while strengthening local livelihoods.

Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company South Africa – Local Economic Benefit
Local procurement has increased from 29 percent in 2017 to 89 percent today, supporting more than 150 small businesses and providing mentorship and certification support to 67 SMMEs. The judges highlighted TMACC’s commitment to developing suppliers beyond the Cableway itself, helping entrepreneurs strengthen operations and access wider tourism markets.

Traditional African Homestays Southern Africa – Championing Cultural Diversity
A fast-growing network of heritage homestays enables visitors to become part of village life while ensuring most fee income stays within communities, with expansion now reaching Eswatini and Botswana. The judges noted the remarkable year-on-year growth, with more than R6 million generated and 70–80 percent of income remaining in host communities, demonstrating a scalable model of cultural preservation and community empowerment.

V&A Waterfront Academy Cape Town – Local Economic Benefit
Since 2023, 315 young people have been placed into employment, with 90 percent securing fulltime jobs for the first time and 15 small businesses supported through the Watershed craft market. The Academy’s model addresses a critical gap by supporting both young workers and the businesses that hire them during the fragile first six months of employment.

The 2026 WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Award silver winners are:

Elephant Human Relations Aid Namibia – Regenerative Tourism
Human elephant conflict incidents have fallen from 92 in 2023 to just 12 so far in 2026, with no elephants shot as problem animals in 2025, across more than 2 million hectares.

Graskop Gorge Lift Company South Africa – Nature Positive
A zero impact access system protects critically endangered species such as the Graskop cliff aloe while sourcing most procurement within 100 kilometres.

Green Planet & TUI Care Foundation Egypt– Championing Cultural Diversity
The Colourful Cultures programme supports artists, artisans and community hosts through training in hospitality, storytelling and entrepreneurship, connecting them to tourism markets through hotel, tour operator and online partnerships.

Imvelo Safari Lodges – Regenerative Tourism
Longterm coexistence work includes water management, antipoaching deterrence and the successful reintroduction of white rhinos.

LUX Marijani Zanzibar – Local Economic Benefit
Local suppliers are embedded into the resort’s value chain, generating consistent income for fishers, farmers, transport providers and women’s cooperatives.

Saruni Wild Kenya – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
A structured internship programme has shifted staff representation from an allmale team in 2015 to nearly one third women today, including a female Assistant Manager and equal gender representation among interns.

TUI Futureshapers North Africa – Local Economic Benefit
The programme supports more than 180 young entrepreneurs across Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia, strengthens local value chains and creates jobs through locally led tourism businesses.

Unexplored Cape Town – Championing Cultural Diversity
Inclusive, community rooted food tours take guests into neighbourhood kitchens and markets, supporting small vendors and welcoming travellers with disabilities while showcasing diverse African and diaspora food cultures.

The 2026 WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Award one-to-watch winners are:

AgroTourism Park by Eco Terra Vista Tours Rwanda – Local Economic Benefit
A grassroots model integrating smallholder farming, cultural heritage and tourism ensures revenue stays in rural communities historically excluded from tourism value chains.

Cape Tourist Guides Association South Africa – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Recognised for strengthening representation by ensuring guides reflect South Africa’s cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic diversity.

Desert & Delta Safaris Botswana – Championing Cultural Diversity
The Okavango Marathon Project offers an immersive cultural journey through remote communities along the Okavango Panhandle, meeting fishermen, travelling by mokoro with community guides and engaging with the San community at Tsodilo.

Green Safaris Zambia and Malawi – Regenerative Tourism
Mukuni Organic Farm and hydrological restoration using cascading check dams demonstrate a regenerative approach to restoring degraded land.

Jacada Travel Zimbabwe – Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
A Female Guides of the Future initiative supports women to access high-level guiding roles through training, mentorship and career pathways in partnership with the Wilderness Trust.

Spekboom Southern Africa – Nature Positive
A tour company offering an automated split payment model channels 2.5 per cent of every booking directly to conservation or community causes at no extra cost to guests.

TUI Care Foundation Field to Fork Tanzania – Regenerative Tourism
Strengthens regenerative food systems, supports local farmers and links sustainable agriculture with tourism markets. One of nine projects worldwide.

TUI Turtle Aid and Project Diversity, Cape Verde – Nature Positive

More than 1.2 million endangered turtle hatchlings have been protected  since 2017 by TUI with local partner Project Biodiversity.

THE JUDGES

The judges of the WTM Africa Responsible Tourism Awards were chaired by Emeritus Professor Harold Goodwin, managing director of the Responsible Tourism Partnership and founder ICRT global and included Glynn O’ Leary Transfrontier Parks Destinations and ICRT Southern Africa, Ruth Crichton regional head Southern Africa the Long Run and ICRT Southern Africa, Adama Bah, Institute of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG) and ICRT West Africa, Martin Brackenbury formerly IFTO and UN Advisor, Kerry Carmichael founder of Echo and Tiomóid Foley, net zero tourism manager, business development and intermediary marketing at Visit Scotland

Debbie Hindle, chair of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism Global, closed the proceedings by congratulating all the winners – and in particular the gold winners, who now have the opportunity to compete in the Global Responsible Tourism Awards and take their stories to the international stage.

Olivia Gradidge, marketing manager WTM Africa and ILTM Africa said: “At WTM Africa, we’re proud to shine a light on these inspiring organisations. It’s truly an honour to recognise the outstanding work of the winners and witness the innovative strides our industry is making every year. This highlight on our events calendar reflects our commitment to championing responsible tourism that benefits people, places, and nature.”

Full citations for all winners are available at www.icrt.global.

-ENDS-

Issued by: Big Ambitions 

Contact: Sonnette Fourie

Tel: +27 81 072 2869 

Email: sonnette@bigambitions.co.za 

Notes to editors:

About CBISN
CBISN is a leader in market intelligence and capacity-building services for those engaging with the Chinese outbound tourism market. Their partnership with WTM Africa aims to provide African stakeholders with actionable insights and tools to welcome and serve Chinese visitors more effectively.

Now in its 33nd year, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. Held annually at the Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024 spanned 12 halls, making it the largest edition to date. The event attracted over 47,000 attendees and more than 35,000 visitors (including 6,000+ high-value buyers) and over 2,550 exhibitors and representatives from over 161 countries. In 2025, ATM will expand to 13 halls, growing across all sectors, and will continue to be a crucial gathering for the global travel and tourism industry. Arabian Travel Market is part of Arabian Travel Week. #ATMDubai

ATM takes place from 4 – 7 May 2026, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.
https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html

Arabian Travel Week is a week-long festival of events alongside Arabian Travel Market 2025. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector, it includes Start-Up Competition, Influencers’ Event, GBTA Business Travel Forums, and ATM Travel Tech. The event also features ATM Buyer Networking and a series of country forums.

https://www.wtm.com/arabian-travel-week/en-gb.html

About RX

RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, visit www.rxglobal.com.

About RELX

RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors

World Travel Market (WTM) Portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are Arabian Travel Market, WTM London, WTM Latin America and WTM Africa.

WTM London is the world’s most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes.

Next event: 3 to 5 November 2026 at ExCel London

http://london.wtm.com/

WTM Latin America is held annually in São Paulo and attracts more than 29,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers a qualified content combined with networking and business opportunities. In its most recent edition, in 2024, WTM Latin America maintained its focus on the effective generation of business and managed to secure the early scheduling of more than six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents, and exhibitors.  WTM Latin America contents are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Next event: 14 to 16 April 2026, Expo Center Norte, São Paulo, Brasil
latinamerica.wtm.com

WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2024, WTM Africa facilitated more than 10 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 8% compared to 2023 and welcomed more than 10 thousand visitors (unaudited), 25% more than 2023.

Next event: 13 to 15 April 2026 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town http://africa.wtm.com/

About ATW Connect:  Africa Travel Week’s digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology. https://atwconnect.com/

WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub. https://hub.wtm.com/

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Third annual Media Awards celebrate excellence in African travel journalism across five categories.

Cape Town: Africa Travel Week (ATW) has announced the winners of its 2026 Media Awards, honouring the journalists, photographers and content creators bringing Africa’s travel and tourism stories to global audiences.

Now in its third year, the ATW Media Awards received a record number of entries – over 170 across five categories: Sustainability Feature Award, Visual Tourism Award, Tourism News Award, Destination Feature Award and the Young Talent Award. All were evaluated by a world-class judging panel comprising wildlife photographer and Canon ambassador Ellie Rothnie, Kojo Bentum-Williams of VoyagesAfriq, Barry Nield of CNN Travel, Divia Thani of Condé Nast Traveller and Tom Hall of Lonely Planet.

“These awards exist to shine a light on the storytellers who shape how the world sees Africa,”says Olivia Gradidge, Marketing Manager (WTM Africa & ILTM Africa) at RX Africa, the host and architect of Africa Travel Week. “The quality of entries this year reflects the depth of talent working in African travel media, and we congratulate every finalist and winner.”

2026 ATW Media Awards Winners

Sustainability Feature Award

Gold: Bella Falk, BBC Wildlife Magazine – Dog Stars: On the Trail of African Wild DogsSilver: Savanna Strauss, Rewilding Southern Africa – Rewilding Giants

Bronze: Tafadzwa Mwanengureni, Minority Africa – They Escaped Their Husbands. Then They Took on Poachers.

Visual Tourism Award

Gold: Wiktoria West, Rewilding Southern Africa – Eastern Chimpanzee

Silver: Bella Falk, Passports & Pixels – Ugandan Group of Dancers

Bronze: Aaron Fishbein – The Basotho Herdsman

Tourism News Award

Gold: Jane Gatwiri, NTV Kenya – Twigas on Transit

Silver: Morgan Barnard, Social Safari Africa – Marriott International was preparing to open its new Ritz-Carlton Safari Camp in Kenya’s Maasai Mara

Bronze: Dale Hes, Tourism Update – AI’s Gatekeeper Role: A Threat to African Tourism

Destination Feature Award

Gold: Sam Kemp, National Geographic Traveller UK – Sierra Leone: After the Storm

Joint Silver: Charlotte Wigram-Evans, National Geographic Traveller – Uganda:We are One

Joint Silver: Lorna Parkes, National Geographic Traveller UK – Kenya: Natural OrderBronze: Victor Ayeni, Punch Newspapers – Nigeria: Sango’s Festival Where Ancient Rites Ignite Fire, Thunder

Young Talent Award

Gold: Shereefdeen Ahmad, The Liberalist – How Schengen Visa Denials Are Shutting Africans Out of the Global Stage

Silver: Savanna Strauss, Rewilding Southern Africa – Is Silence Going Extinct?

Bronze: William Muthama, K24 Digital – List of KWS Parks and Reserves You Can Visit for Free on Saturday

“In a media environment flooded with AI-generated content and deepfakes, what we saw in these entries was a reminder of why real journalism still matters,” says Dorine Reinstein from Big Ambitions, ATW’s PR partner. “”The 2026 winners represent the very best of that community: writers, photographers and journalists producing pieces that were grounded, well-researched and honestly told.”

The 2026 ATW Media Awards were presented at the end of Day 1 of WTM Africa during Africa Travel Week.

For media enquiries, contact Sonnette Fourie on +27 81 072 2869 or sonnette@bigambitions.co.za

-ENDS-

Issued by: Big Ambitions 

Contact: Sonnette Fourie

Tel: +27 81 072 2869 

Email: sonnette@bigambitions.co.za 

Notes to editors:

About CBISN
CBISN is a leader in market intelligence and capacity-building services for those engaging with the Chinese outbound tourism market. Their partnership with WTM Africa aims to provide African stakeholders with actionable insights and tools to welcome and serve Chinese visitors more effectively.

Now in its 33nd year, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. Held annually at the Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024 spanned 12 halls, making it the largest edition to date. The event attracted over 47,000 attendees and more than 35,000 visitors (including 6,000+ high-value buyers) and over 2,550 exhibitors and representatives from over 161 countries. In 2025, ATM will expand to 13 halls, growing across all sectors, and will continue to be a crucial gathering for the global travel and tourism industry. Arabian Travel Market is part of Arabian Travel Week. #ATMDubai

ATM takes place from 4 – 7 May 2026, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.
https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html

Arabian Travel Week is a week-long festival of events alongside Arabian Travel Market 2025. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector, it includes Start-Up Competition, Influencers’ Event, GBTA Business Travel Forums, and ATM Travel Tech. The event also features ATM Buyer Networking and a series of country forums.

https://www.wtm.com/arabian-travel-week/en-gb.html

About RX

RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, visit www.rxglobal.com.

About RELX

RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors

World Travel Market (WTM) Portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are Arabian Travel Market, WTM London, WTM Latin America and WTM Africa.

WTM London is the world’s most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes.

Next event: 3 to 5 November 2026 at ExCel London

http://london.wtm.com/

WTM Latin America is held annually in São Paulo and attracts more than 29,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers a qualified content combined with networking and business opportunities. In its most recent edition, in 2024, WTM Latin America maintained its focus on the effective generation of business and managed to secure the early scheduling of more than six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents, and exhibitors.  WTM Latin America contents are available in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Next event: 14 to 16 April 2026, Expo Center Norte, São Paulo, Brasil
latinamerica.wtm.com

WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2024, WTM Africa facilitated more than 10 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 8% compared to 2023 and welcomed more than 10 thousand visitors (unaudited), 25% more than 2023.

Next event: 13 to 15 April 2026 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town http://africa.wtm.com/

About ATW Connect:  Africa Travel Week’s digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology. https://atwconnect.com/

WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub. https://hub.wtm.com/

Table of Contents

JOHANNESBURG – When FCM Meetings and Events (FCM M&E) released its 2026 Trends Report, the data was clear: 100% of bookings (across Australia and New Zealand, North America, LATAM, Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia) included at least one sustainability requirement. 

Lance Nkwe, Business Leader, FCM Meetings & Events South Africa says sustainability is now part and parcel of every experience. And while this includes removing notebooks and paper cups (both rarely recycled) and single-use plastics, what an event “leaves behind” is becoming increasingly important.

“Event planners are making visible strides with environmentally conscious choices in venues, catering and waste management, and there is growing interest in responsible, scalable solutions,” says Nkwe. “ESG reporting and community impact are especially important as clients look to demonstrate that their presence in an area contributes positively to local community development.”

Corporate hotel programmes are under the same scrutiny. Jessica Redinger, General Manager of Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank – which has just achieved Green Key Certification – agrees.

“Sustainability has quickly become non-negotiable in our industry. We’re seeing it come through in 100% of RFPs (request for proposals) we receive from major global companies. Green Key gives Hyde a credible, internationally recognised certification that speaks directly to that expectation. It’s a must for corporate agreements, but also for business and leisure travellers who are increasingly choosing properties based on sustainability credentials – and what they give back to their local community – not just their name or brand,” says Redinger.

In other words, sustainability has quickly moved from a nice-to-have to a procurement essential. According to a 2023 Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) survey, 76% of travel buyers were integrating or planning to integrate sustainability questions into their RFPs, and 63% were selecting or planning to select suppliers based on sustainability criteria.

In June 2024, the GBTA Foundation formalised this shift with the launch of its Sustainable Hotel Procurement Standards – a framework of 50 structured questions covering everything from carbon emissions per room per night to water use, waste management, food and beverage practices, and EV charging availability.

And as Mummy Mafojane, General Manager FCM South Africa, explains, SA’s regulatory context adds urgency. South Africa’s Climate Change Act (No. 22 of 2024) came into force on 17 March 2025. The legislation introduces carbon budgets and legal obligations to stay within defined emissions ceilings, with mandatory monitoring, reporting, and verification requirements. 

“For corporate travel managers, this has a direct implication: the hotels and venues in your programme are part of your organisation’s emissions story,” says Mafojane. “Choosing certified properties isn’t just responsible; it’s a compliance consideration.”

Behind the scenes: what certified hotels are actually doing

The most meaningful changes happening in hotels right now are largely invisible to guests. Real structural interventions, happening in the background, but making a significant difference. 

As an example, Hyde Johannesburg Rosebank’s Green Key certification, awarded by WESSA and aligned with international Green Key standards, covers energy consumption, water management, waste practices, staff training and local procurement. 

Internationally, the Radisson Hotel Group has just announced a target of 100 Verified Net Zero Hotels by 2030, with a phased 2026 roll-out beginning in Norway and the Nordics, followed by the UK and South Africa – making it the first African country to host a Radisson Verified Net Zero property. 

Mafojane says there’s a financial case to be made too. 

“Data from a 2024 HRS Green Stay Initiative found that, on average, the 25% most efficient hotels in its sustainability database offered average daily rates 17% lower than the 25% most polluting hotels – countering the widespread assumption that green costs more,” says Mafojane.

Building a sustainable travel programme

FCM Consulting’s Insights Report for H1 2026 offers a practical framework for travel managers looking to act:

• Start by ensuring you have access to reporting tools that track ESG metrics and establish clear baselines. 
• Align your travel-specific sustainability goals with your company’s broader objectives – the two need to work together, not in isolation. 
• Engage suppliers who share your ESG values, and don’t wait for legislation to land before reviewing what’s coming; organisations that have targets and baselines in place will be far better positioned when compliance becomes mandatory.

What business travellers need to do

Hotels and travel managers can build the most sustainable programme in the world. But travellers still need to pull their weight. For Mafojane, there are five changes that make a genuine difference:

1. Booking within your programme. A company’s preferred hotel list has been sustainability-vetted. Booking outside it for convenience undermines the good work the travel manager has done.
2. Skipping the daily room clean. Opting out of daily housekeeping is one of the highest-impact individual choices a traveller can make. 
3. “Hyde’s ‘Skip the Clean’ programme allows guests to opt out of daily housekeeping and earn loyalty points in return,” says Redinger. “But that single choice reduces linen washing, cleaning chemical usage, water consumption, energy use and labour – without guests feeling like they’ve made a sacrifice.”
4. Adjusting energy settings when you leave the room. Turn off the air conditioning or heating when you head out. Most properties now make this easy; some have it automated. Do it anyway.
5. Choose lower-carbon meal options where they exist. Hotel F&B is a key part of a property’s emissions footprint. Choose locally sourced dishes and ingredients.
6. Feed back to your travel manager. If a hotel had a sustainability feature worth noting – or a glaring gap – say so. That information directly shapes the next RFP cycle and helps travel management companies (TMCs) build programmes that keep improving.

What this means for your travel programme

Sustainability in both hotel programmes and the meetings & events sector is no longer aspirational. It is structural, measurable and increasingly legislated. As Nkwe says, “Make sure your planner or TMC understands your sustainability requirements, can genuinely meet them, and has the reporting capability to prove it. In 2026, that’s a basic expectation.”

**ends**

For more information about FCM Travel call Sonnette Fourie on 081 072 2869 or email sonnette@bigambitions.co.za.

About FCM Travel:

FCM Travel, the flagship corporate travel brand at Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), is the business travel partner of choice for large national, multinational and global corporations. We are an award-winning global corporate travel management company ranking as one of the top five by size around the world. We operate a global network which spans more than 100 countries, employing over 6000 people.

FCM are transforming the business of travel through our empowered and accountable people who deliver 24/7 service and are available either online or offline. Leveraging FCM’s negotiating strength and supplier relationships in conjunction with our tailored business travel programs, our expertise delivers more for our clients where it matters most to them.

Visit us at www.fcmtravel.co.za

Issued by: Big Ambitions

Contact: Sonnette Fourie

Tel: +27 81 072 2869

Email: sonnette@bigambitions.co.za

As the gap widens between ‘marketing sustainability’ and ‘operational reality,’ these awards identify the trailblazers who are turning responsible tourism principles into measurable, scalable business assets.

Important Dates and Entry Information

• Entry Deadline: 17 April 2026
• Awards Ceremony: 22 June 2026 at Experience Africa, London
• Cost: Free to enter
• Limit: Applicants may enter a maximum of two categories.

Following a surge in high-calibre entries in 2025, the 2026 programme retains its ten established categories spanning the full spectrum of regenerative travel, from marine conservation and climate innovation to community empowerment and ethical storytelling. This is a deliberate strategic move. By keeping the criteria consistent, ATTA® is establishing a year-on-year yardstick.

Chris Mears, CEO of ATTA Group Events, explained the shift in expectation:

“By keeping our categories consistent, we are challenging the industry to show us progress. We want to see how last year’s emerging ideas have become this year’s business models. An initiative might look good on paper, but we need to question how it actually changes a life, contributes to saving a species, or alters a supply chain. We encourage all organisations to enter, from small eco-lodges to major operators. If you have a blueprint that works, the industry needs to see, model, and celebrate it.”

Nigel Vere-Nicoll, ATTA® Honorary President, emphasised that these awards are designed to separate those saying the right things from those doing the hard work.

“Africa is setting itself apart as a world leader in regenerative tourism, and these awards are the mechanism by which we validate that claim.”

The awards apply a double check process on scoring with a selected group of judges. “We have assembled a judging panel that combines historical industry knowledge with the fresh, uncompromising perspective of young changemakers,” added Vere-Nicoll.  

“Beyond recognition, these awards provide a platform for organisations to position themselves as leaders in the eyes of international buyers actively seeking purpose-led partners. Entering is an opportunity to validate their team’s hard work on a global stage,” Vere-Nicoll concluded.

To enter and view full criteria, visit: https://awards.atta.travel/

For further information please contact: chris@attagroup.events

-Ends-

ABOUT ATTA®

ATTA® (The African Travel and Tourism Association) is the leading pan-African trade association promoting tourism to Africa and the Indian Ocean islands. Known as the “Voice of African Tourism,” ATTA® serves over 900 member businesses, including accommodation providers, tour operators, and travel specialists. It provides accurate industry news, hosts networking events and trade shows, and delivers valuable member training and resources. For more information, visit atta.travel.

Join the ATTA® Media Network to gain access to news about tourism in Africa, access to spokespeople and thought leaders and other media benefits. Email media@atta.travel for details.

About ATTA® Group Events:

ATTA® Group Events is the foremost platform for connecting African suppliers with top international buyers at various shows. Promoting an expansive range of travel products and unique experiences from across Africa, ATTA® Group Events hosts B2B events that are not just a meeting ground but a catalyst for forging essential industry connections, making these #ThePlaceToConnect for the African tourism industry.

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – February 21, 2026 (World Pangolin Day) – Pangolin.Africa today announced a coordinated campaign to achieve the approval of a pangolin emoji with the Unicode Consortium, marking a renewed effort following a rejection of an application in 2019.

The Unicode Consortium, the non-profit organisation responsible for approving new emojis, requires specific, quantifiable evidence of public interest. Petitions and social media campaigns are explicitly not accepted. Instead, Unicode evaluates:

• Google Search volume and trends
• Google Video Search metrics
• Website traffic data
• Comparative analysis with approved animal emojis

“Unicode’s requirements are rigorous, and rightfully so,” notes Toby Jermyn, Director of Pangolin.Africa. “They need proof that people will actually use a pangolin emoji. Our campaign is designed to build exactly that proof – transparently, measurably, and in accordance with their documented standards.”

The campaign launches on World Pangolin Day (21^st February 2026) with a call for global audiences to search for “Pangolin” on Google and alternative search engines to build the quantifiable public interest metrics that Unicode requires for emoji approval.

“A pangolin emoji was proposed to Unicode in 2019 and was summarily declined,” says Emma Bracher, Programme Director at Pangolin.Africa. “Then COVID-19 hit, and suddenly everyone was searching for pangolins because of the virus’s suspected origins. Search traffic spiked dramatically. But we can’t rely on a global pandemic to generate awareness. We need sustained, organic interest—and we’re building that now.”

The Case for Pangolin Representation

Pangolins occupy a unique position among endangered species: they are simultaneously real animals facing extinction and creatures of almost mythical quality in popular imagination. Their distinctive scales, long tongues, and solitary nature make them unlike any other mammal on Earth.

Yet while dragons, unicorns, and other mythical creatures have emoji representation, pangolins do not. Even extinct animals like the dodo and dinosaurs are represented in emoji keyboards worldwide.

“There is a genuine incomprehension as to why pangolins don’t have an emoji,” explains Jermyn. “They’re visually distinctive. They’re culturally significant across Africa and Asia. They’re critically endangered and need awareness. And they have all the characteristics that make for compelling emoji use. The only thing missing has been demonstrated public interest.”

Emoji Design Competition

Following the awareness campaign, Pangolin.Africa will launch a design competition open to anyone who has completed the Pangolin Guardians Course. Participants will create Unicode-compliant emoji designs (curled-up and walking poses) for submission.

Pangolin.Africa will open submissions for design entries from 15 March 2026. A full design brief with details of the Unicode specifications, is available on the Pangolin.Africa website.

The winning designer receives international recognition and the distinction of creating the first pangolin emojis, with designs submitted to Unicode during May 2026.

The Conservation Context

Pangolins are the world’s most illegally trafficked mammals, with over one million individuals stolen from the wild in the past decade. All eight pangolin species – four in Africa and four in Asia – are threatened with extinction due to poaching for their scales (used in traditional medicine despite having no medicinal value) and meat.

Despite this critical conservation status, pangolins remain largely unknown to the general public. Digital representation through emojis would provide a tool for everyday conservation conversations, much as elephant , rhinoceros , and gorilla emojis have done for those species.

“When people can text about pangolins as easily as they can text about elephants, pangolins become part of our cultural conversation,” says Bracher. “That visibility drives awareness. Awareness drives action. Action drives conservation outcomes.”

The COVID-19 Precedent

In early 2020, search interest in pangolins surged dramatically as scientists investigated the virus’s origins and potential wildlife reservoirs. Google Trends data showed a spike in “pangolin” searches that persisted for several months.

(Google Trends Data)

“That spike proved people were interested. But it was driven by a global health crisis, not by genuine conservation engagement,” explains Jermyn. “What we’re building now is sustainable, education-based interest. People aren’t searching because they’re afraid. They’re searching because they want to learn, understand, and help.”

Call to Action

Individuals worldwide are encouraged to:

1. Search “pangolin” on Google (web search, image search, video search)
2. Visit Pangolin.Africa to learn about the species and conservation efforts
3. Complete the FREE 15-minute Pangolin Guardians Educational Course

Media organisations can support the campaign by:

• Covering pangolin conservation and the emoji campaign
• Including pangolin imagery in World Pangolin Day coverage
• Linking to Pangolin.Africa educational resources
• Explaining the trafficking crisis and conservation needs

For more information about the campaign, to access educational resources and imagery, or to complete the Pangolin Guardians Course, visit pangolin.africa

View video by Toby Jermyn here on the Pangolin Emoji Campaign.

Media Contact

Nikki Evans
Marketing Manager, Pangolin.Africa
Email: nikki@pangolin.africa
Phone: +27 082 578 3602
Website: www.pangolin.africa

About Pangolin.Africa

Pangolin.Africa is a South African based registered non-profit organisation (Reg. No. 2018/380634/08) dedicated to the survival of the most highly trafficked wildlife species on Earth – the African pangolin. Through Pangolin.Africa’s three-pronged approach of publicity, participation, and protection, its projects enable global partners in tourism, conservation, and business to contribute to research, protection, and rehabilitation of this vulnerable species.

Table of Contents

JOHANNESBURG – For decades, South African corporate travel was ruled by a single metric: cost. If a route via the Middle East saved R5,000 on a trip to London, it was booked. But as we approach the 2026-2030 commitment period of the Climate Change Act, that logic is breaking down.

Today, that same indirect flight presents a boardroom-level dilemma. It might be cheaper, but does the extended flight path blow the carbon budget? And given current geopolitical volatility, does the layover expose the employee to unacceptable security risks?

Travel has shifted from a procurement line item to a complex governance challenge. While South African businesses remain budget-conscious, the convergence of stricter ESG reporting and heightened Duty of Care means the “cheapest fare” is often no longer the viable option.

The regulatory wake-up call

The catalyst for this shift is regulatory. In March last year, the Climate Change Act came partially into effect, fundamentally changing how large companies view their operations. The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment’s technical guidelines for carbon budgets set up the first commitment period (2026 to 2030). This pushes companies from merely “preparing” to proving exactly what they emit and how they will cut it.

Crucially, business travel is explicitly listed in the JSE’s climate disclosure guidance as a Scope 3 emissions source.

For those outside the sustainability office, the distinction between the different scopes is an important one. Scope 1 covers direct emissions (like fuel for company cars), and Scope 2 covers indirect energy (like electricity for the head office). Scope 3 is the catch-all for the wider value chain, including every flight, hotel night, and Uber ride taken by staff. Because these emissions happen outside the company’s direct control, they are the hardest to measure, yet for many service-based companies, they make up the bulk of their carbon footprint.

“Before, boards considered travel expenditure purely as a finance issue. Now, it’s about how business travel fits into the carbon budget,” says Mummy Mafojane, GM FCM South Africa. “Boards want to know: what did we emit, where did it come from, and what are we doing differently next quarter? If companies are expected to report emissions properly, travel has to be counted and managed like any other source of carbon.”

Leading by example

We are already seeing this shift among South Africa’s major players. Leading financial group Discovery has committed to eliminating its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2028. In practice, this means decarbonising their physical operations, shifting their buildings to renewable energy and eliminating emissions from company-owned fleets.

But the bigger challenge lies in Scope 3, where they have committed to cutting business-travel emissions by a further 30% by 2030. This requires a fundamental change in behaviour: replacing non-essential flights with digital alternatives, enforcing stricter approval flows, and selecting travel partners based on carbon efficiency rather than just price.

Similarly, energy and chemicals giant Sasol already measures and reports its global business-travel footprint under Scope 3. Unlike companies that simply estimate this, Sasol uses granular data to calculate the exact impact, using that information to purchase verified carbon credits to offset the emissions they cannot yet eliminate.

However, many companies struggle to match this precision because complete, auditable travel data is notoriously difficult to collate. When employees book directly with airlines, use consumer sites, or pay with personal cards, the data fragments. Without details on cabin class, routing, or ground transport, calculations rely on averages and assumptions, and those are methods that auditors are increasingly rejecting.

When disruption becomes a data problem

Here’s where South Africa’s recent travel chaos becomes more than just an operational headache and becomes an ESG compliance issue.

When jet-fuel shortages at OR Tambo and Cape Town forced flight cancellations and diversions recently, employees scrambled to rebook. Some used personal credit cards. Others booked last-minute alternatives through consumer sites. Fuel had to be sourced from Durban and Mozambique, creating extended ground transport and unplanned routing changes.

Similarly, when severe weather repeatedly flooded roads and disrupted flights across coastal and inland regions, itineraries were rewritten on the fly, often outside the official travel management channel.

The result? Every disruption creates a data gap. Those emergency re-bookings, alternative routes, and last-minute hotel stays rarely get captured in the company’s emissions tracking system. When audit season arrives, the carbon calculation is incomplete, and the auditor flags it.

“Emissions reporting is only as good as the supplier inputs behind it,” notes Mafojane. “But when a crisis forces employees off-programme, even the best suppliers can’t help you. You end up with gaps in your Scope 3 data, and that becomes a regulatory risk, not just a travel risk.”

This is why resilience planning is now an ESG imperative. Companies that build contingency into their travel programmes, including preferred backup routes, pre-vetted alternative carriers, clear escalation protocols, don’t just protect their people. They protect their data integrity. And in a world where incomplete emissions reporting can trigger audit findings or regulatory scrutiny, that matters.

Even when travel goes according to plan, supplier quality determines whether your emissions data holds up under scrutiny. If an airline, hotel group, or car-rental partner can’t provide usable emissions data, the company ends up relying on proxies, and those numbers get interrogated later by auditors, assurance teams and, in some cases, regulators.

That’s why preferred supplier lists will increasingly favour providers that can deliver consistent emissions information and show credible progress on their own footprint. It lowers reporting risk as much as it lowers emissions.

Duty of care meets carbon accountability

This is where ESG and Duty of Care fully converge. More companies are aligning travel risk management to ISO 31030, moving beyond ad-hoc approvals to structured frameworks with clear escalation paths and contingency plans that don’t hinge on a single airport, corridor, or carrier.

This complexity changes the mandate for the Travel Management Company (TMC). It’s no longer enough to simply issue a ticket. The TMC must ensure that every booking – and every rebooking – flows through channels that capture the data needed for compliance.

“Boards don’t like surprises – on carbon, on cost, or on disruption – and they expect their TMC to flag those issues before they happen,” Mafojane adds.

The Climate Change Act puts business travel inside the same reporting rules as the rest of a company’s emissions. If the information is incomplete, an auditor will pull it apart. If there’s no backup plan, a fuel shortage or storm doesn’t just strand people, but can creates holes in your carbon reporting that you’ll have to defend later.

As we head into 2026, the companies that will succeed are those that can provide evidence of controls, supplier vetting, and data integrity. Those that can’t will find themselves defending carbon budget overruns to the regulator, and explaining to the board why their teams were stranded halfway across the world instead of in front of clients.

**ends**

For more information about FCM Travel call Sonnette Fourie on 081 072 2869 or email sonnette@bigambitions.co.za.

About FCM Travel:

FCM Travel, the flagship corporate travel brand at Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), is the business travel partner of choice for large national, multinational and global corporations. We are an award-winning global corporate travel management company ranking as one of the top five by size around the world. We operate a global network which spans more than 100 countries, employing over 6000 people.

FCM are transforming the business of travel through our empowered and accountable people who deliver 24/7 service and are available either online or offline. Leveraging FCM’s negotiating strength and supplier relationships in conjunction with our tailored business travel programs, our expertise delivers more for our clients where it matters most to them.

Visit us at www.fcmtravel.co.za

Issued by: Big Ambitions

Contact: Lori Cohen

Tel: +27 79 641 4965

Email: Lori@bigambitions.co.za