With the number of tourists traveling to Africa from the USA on the rise, the Africa Travel Association (ATA) has announced that it will host the fifth annual U.S.-Africa Travel & Tourism Industry Seminar in Washington, D.C. on Friday, March 16, 2012. The conference will be a one-day stand alone kick-off event immediately preceding the Travel & Adventure consumer expo, being held March 17–18, 2012 at the Washington D.C. Convention Center.

“Now more than ever is the time to bring tourism leaders from both the public and private sectors together to increase travel from the USA to Africa,” said Edward Bergman, Execute Director of ATA. “Perceptions of Africa as a destination for travel and business and investment are changing, more and more airlines are linking the two continents, and products are being better promoted and becoming increasingly diverse.”

The one-day learning, networking and business building event provides government leaders and industry professionals from Africa and the USA the opportunity to learn about new products and trends, explore innovative marketing and promotional opportunities, and address industry challenges. Government tourism leaders, diplomatic community representatives, African Diaspora community leaders, travel trade media, faculty and students also encouraged to attend the conference.

The 2011 event will once again be sponsored by the Travel & Adventure Show® that has supported the event for several years now. “Our partnering allows us to provide members and seminar participants additional benefits, as well as attract additional travel professionals to attend the 2012 conference,” said Bergman.

ATA conference participants will receive a complimentary ticket to the expo. Special reduced-exhibition rates are also available for ATA members. The show attracts high-value consumers from the Washington, DC area who are ready-to-book African vacations.

Africa Travel Association, info@africatravelassociation.org, www.africatravelassociation.org