As the travel industry moves steadily towards specialization in destination, lifestyle, niche markets and other segments, Africa is emerging as a strong favorite with agents looking for a lucrative and rewarding destination to focus on or add to their offering.

The continent answers particularly well to the growing demands for experiential travel, voluntourism, sustainable tourism, family/multi-generational travel, exotic honeymoons and, of course, the bucket-list of places people want to see before they die. Deciding to sell Africa may not be difficult, but finding the best companies to build relationships with, can be a daunting undertaking.

APTA is a nonprofit, volunteer, B-2-B association of travel professionals on a mission to promote Africa and her islands as tourist destinations to the retail travel agents and tour operators in the United States.

APTA’s executive and chapter board officials are travel professionals, already actively involved in various other capacities throughout the industry.

They share their time and resources voluntarily out of a common passion for the African continent and Indian Ocean islands, their potential as travel destinations, and for the benefits of tourism to their environments and peoples.

Individual members are travel agents and tour operators in the USA who already sell Africa, or are interested in selling Africa as a tourist destination. Corporate members are the tourist boards of African countries, airlines that operate flights in and into Africa, hotels, lodges, operators and other service providers in Africa and the USA.

APTA strives to create networking and marketing opportunities for all our members, and to be the primary point of contact for buyers and sellers in the African travel and hospitality industry.

Its online directory of active members is a comprehensive register of African travel suppliers, products, representatives and services.

APTA (Association for Promotion of Tourism to Africa), www.APTA.biz