In honour of Women’s Month, WTM Africa announces early updates to WTM Africa 2027 Women in Tourism.
The programme runs alongside WTM Africa 2027, from 7–9 April 2027 at CTICC in Cape Town.
The initiative will centre on strategic skills development for women across the tourism sector.
It will help them build the confidence, knowledge and networks to grow their careers.
It will contribute to the industry’s future, including WTM Africa 2027 Women in Tourism.
The global share of tourism and hospitality board seats held by women doubled from 16% in 2013 to 33% in 2025. Representation at the top still thins out. A World Travel & Tourism Council study shows that women hold just 42% of mid-management positions and only 7% of CEO or chair roles.
As demand accelerates globally for inclusive leadership in travel and hospitality, we are working to ensure that the effective upliftment of women in tourism remains a priority, said Megan De Jager, Portfolio Director for Travel, Tourism and Sports at RX Africa.
Voted Mentor of the Year at the 2026 Women in MICE Awards, De Jager believes genuine progress in gender empowerment calls for more than creating leadership opportunities for women. It requires an intentional focus on professional development and support to help them succeed when they get there.
“Women have an enormous role to play in deciding our industry’s future, but leadership is not only about the positions we hold. It is also about having the confidence to use our voices, share our ideas, and recognise the value we bring,” she added.
Amongst the planned highlights for WiT 2027 is “Empowering Female Leadership in Tourism”, an interactive workshop exploring high-impact topics. These include strategic decision-making, adaptive leadership, personal and corporate branding, mentorship and networking.
Session timing and audience
This dedicated session will follow the Women in MICE Breakfast and welcome women across meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sector. It will provide a platform to launch new categories for the Women in MICE Awards 2027.
This Women’s Month, the message is clear: women already represent one of tourism’s greatest resources. WTM Africa 2027 aims to create more opportunities for them to develop their skills and step forward with the confidence to contribute at every level of the industry.
Next event: 7 to 9 April 2027 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town. For more information visit or register at: http://africa.wtm.com/
