100 delegates, more than 1,000 buyer-seller meetings and an unforgettable program of education, networking and adventure marked APTA’s first-ever Global Forum in Zambia — as the organization announced Canada as the destination for 2027.
The Association for the Promotion of Tourism to Africa (APTA) has concluded a hugely successful 2026 APTA Global Forum in Livingstone, Zambia, bringing together 100 tourism professionals from Africa and North America for three days of business, education, networking and destination experiences at the doorstep of Victoria Falls.
Held September 25–27 at the Avani Victoria Falls Resort, the Forum marked APTA’s first Global Forum in Zambia and continued the organization’s growing role in connecting the African tourism industry directly with travel advisors and tour operators from across the US and Canada.
Business was at the heart of the weekend. Thirty-three African suppliers participated in APTA Connect, resulting in 1,089 one-to-one meetings between buyers and sellers over four dedicated appointment sessions. The structured meetings gave participants the opportunity to develop new partnerships, strengthen existing relationships and put new destinations and experiences in front of North American travel sellers.
“There is something very special about bringing this community together in Africa itself, and Livingstone absolutely delivered,” said David DiGregorio, APTA Director of Marketing. “We had 100 people here, more than a thousand one-to-one business meetings, an exceptional group of speakers and three days where people genuinely connected with one another. APTA Forum has always been about relationships as much as business, and I think this year showed just how powerful that combination can be.”
A Forum Built Around Africa
The educational program brought together an outstanding lineup of tourism leaders addressing some of the issues shaping travel to Africa today.
Sessions ranged from Wes Hartmann’s story of rewilding a Zambian landscape and Tapiwa Mayuni’s exploration of Malawi’s conservation story, to Mark Gillies of Asilia Africa examining peak seasons, crowding and the opportunities of traveling outside traditional high season. Adrian Coley of Flatdogs Camp spoke about collective giving and conservation in Zambia, while Daan Brink examined trends and developments across Southern Africa.
Sunday’s program continued with Suzanne Bayly of Classic Portfolio on choosing destinations and partners with purpose and positive impact, followed by Cath Bradshaw of Tusks & Trails on marketing Zambia and the region to travelers.
The Forum also represented an important milestone for Olivia Havens, APTA Executive Director, who joined the organization earlier this year and attended her first Global Forum in the role. Havens opened the Forum alongside APTA Chairperson Jane Behrend and later introduced members to APTA’s new Member Hub before joining the closing remarks.
Experiencing Livingstone
As always, the APTA Global Forum extended well beyond the meeting room.
The weekend began with a Day of Adventure, with 67 delegates participating across 11 different experiences throughout the Victoria Falls and Livingstone region. Activities included guided visits to Victoria Falls and Mukuni Cultural Village, white-water rafting on the Batoka Gorge, river safaris and canoeing on the Zambezi, rhino tracking, quad biking, helicopter and microlight flights over Victoria Falls, and a visit to Bobo Camp.
Evenings were equally memorable. Delegates gathered for an opening reception at The David Livingstone Safari Lodge, spread throughout Livingstone for a Saturday evening dine-around, and concluded the Forum with dinner aboard the Bushtracks Dinner Train, combining five-star dining with one last shared experience in the Victoria Falls region.
The 2026 Forum was supported by destination partner Africa’s Eden, highlighting the interconnected tourism offering of the greater Victoria Falls region across Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia.
Next Stop: Canada
The Forum closed with a major announcement for APTA’s membership: the 2027 APTA Global Forum will take place in Canada at the end of September 2027.
It will mark the first time in APTA’s 46-year history that the Global Forum has been hosted in Canada, bringing the organization’s flagship gathering to a new North American destination and opening another chapter for the APTA community.
Further details on the 2027 host destination, dates and registration will be announced in the months ahead.
Thank you to every buyer, supplier, speaker, sponsor and partner who helped make Livingstone an extraordinary APTA Global Forum. See you in Canada in 2027.
