The first edition of the African Tourism Market Fair (SMTA) officially opened on Monday in Dakar, with Morocco participating as the guest of honor, in a significant event aimed at strengthening African tourism and boosting regional cooperation in the sector.
Held under the theme “Travel, Invest, Share: African Tourism on the Move,” the fair brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including tourism professionals, investors, tour operators, hoteliers, airlines, and international experts who have gathered in the Senegalese capital to explore new avenues for promoting tourism, culture, crafts, and transport across the continent.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Senegal’s Minister of Culture, Crafts, and Tourism, Amadou Ba, said the objective of the fair is to restore Africa’s rightful place on the global tourism stage and to give the continent “a strong and credible voice in a rapidly evolving sector.” He stressed that Africa, as the cradle of humanity and a land rich in natural and cultural heritage, possesses exceptional potential to develop diversified and sustainable tourism capable of meeting the expectations of a wide variety of visitors.
Ba highlighted that Africa recorded a 9% growth in international tourist arrivals in 2024, compared to a global average of 5%, describing this performance as a sign of a new momentum and a “wind of change” reflecting the growing vitality of the continent’s economic sectors.
The fair, running from December 8 to 11, features exhibitions of global tourism products, cultural and gastronomic events, thematic conferences and panel discussions on tourism financing, a dedicated forum on halal tourism, and an international conference focusing on cruise tourism.
