Web in Travel Announces WiT Africa 2026, Set to Take Place in Cape Town This April

WiT’s “The Next 20” theme is a bold look at the future of travel, technology and talent

 

CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Jan. 29, 2026 – Web in Travel (WiT), the leading travel‑technology and innovation platform across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, today announced the return of WiT Africa 2026, taking place on April 9 at Innovation City, Cape Town.  The event marks a milestone year for WiT as it celebrates its 20th anniversary with a powerful theme: “The Next 20.”

 

Two decades ago, the travel industry was navigating dial‑up connections and the earliest forms of online booking.  Since then, it has weathered wave after wave of technological and societal change – from mobile and social to cloud computing and now the rapid acceleration of AI.  “The Next 20” reflects this evolution and challenges the industry to shift from merely surviving disruption to actively mastering reinvention.

 

The theme explores the forces reshaping global travel: technological acceleration, shifting demographics, and profound cultural change.  It acknowledges Africa’s growing, and asks how the next era of travel will be imagined, designed, and delivered.  It raises provocative questions about the future: Will AI rewrite how we discover and book travel, or rewire the traveller’s brain entirely?  What becomes of intermediaries when choice becomes conversation?  As machines get smarter, will the soulful, the human, and the handmade become premium?  And who will shape the next travel Renaissance?

 

“As WiT enters its 20th year, we’re not just looking back – we’re looking bravely ahead,” said Siew Hoon Yeoh, co‑founder and editor‑in‑chief of Web in Travel.  “Africa is one of the most exciting frontiers for travel innovation, with a young population, a thriving creator economy, and a wave of digital transformation reshaping how people move, connect, and experience the world.  ‘The Next 20’ is an invitation to rethink everything: how we design journeys, how we use technology, and how we build an industry that reflects the future, not the past.  Cape Town is the perfect place to host this conversation: creative, entrepreneurial, and alive with possibility.”

 

Africa is entering a defining decade in which demographic strength, digital acceleration, and rising mobility are converging to reshape the continent’s travel landscape. With the world’s youngest population – nearly 60% are under the age of 25 – Africa is home to a generation that is mobile‑native, globally connected, and eager to explore.  The region’s travel and tourism sector is projected to grow faster than the global average, supported by expanding middle‑class spending, improved air connectivity, and a surge in intra‑African travel.  At the same time, a new wave of travel‑tech entrepreneurs is emerging across markets such as Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt, driving innovation in payments, mobility, distribution, and experiences.  Together, these forces position Africa not just as a rising market, but as a critical contributor to the future of global travel.

 

Cape Town stands out as the ideal host city for WiT Africa 2026 thanks to its unique blend of creativity, innovation, and world‑class tourism infrastructure.  The city has become one of Africa’s most dynamic tech and startup hubs, attracting founders, investors, and digital talent from across the continent and beyond.  Its entrepreneurial energy is matched by a thriving creative economy, making it a natural home for conversations about the future of travel.  Cape Town also offers exceptional connectivity, hospitality, and visitor experiences, ensuring a seamless environment for industry leaders to gather, collaborate, and shape what comes next. As the home of Innovation City, an invitation‑only community of innovators and changemakers, the city embodies the forward‑looking spirit of “The Next 20.”

 

About WiT

WIT is a community for anyone passionate about travel technology, distribution and marketing. This basically means if you love travel in terms of wanting to understand how technology is changing travel and travellers, you are one of us. We provide news through our website and social platforms, and run events that are strong in content and different in style and delivery. We launched our first event in 2005 and have been spreading learning through events in Singapore and Asia, including Malaysia, Seoul and Tokyo, and the Middle East and Africa. As part of the Northstar Travel Group, we also have taken our events to Europe and the US.

Our purpose is to take your mind to new places so that together, we can accelerate travel innovation to delight travellers and support local communities.

 

About WiT Africa

Launched as a virtual bridge between Asia and Africa in 2021, WiT Africa has evolved into a flagship in‑person gathering for the continent’s travel‑tech community. It brings together leaders from airlines, OTAs, hospitality, mobility, fintech, and startups to explore the forces shaping the future of travel