Johannesburg to host 7th AYTIS

Africa Tourism Partners (ATP), UN Tourism and BDO, have announced the relocation of the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge (AYTIS) to Johannesburg, South Africa. Following the development, which they attributed to unforeseen circumstances, Nairobi, Kenya will no longer host the summit. The summit will now be held in Johannesburg in partnership with South African Tourism and Johannesburg Tourism from June 24-26, 2025.

Offering details of the event programmes, the organisers noted that the first day of the summit will feature delegates arrival and registration, June 25th and 26th will be full summit days, while 27th will be a day at leisure and delegates departure.

The dates coincide with South Africa’s Youth Month of June, which holds high significance to the country. In the same vein, the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit is a gathering of young change-makers, ministries of tourism, ICT, hospitality policymakers, venture capitalists, international buyers and investors to engage in discussions that will contribute to the growth of tourism in the African continent.

The summit also provides networking, collaboration and career guidance opportunities as well as business growth through a well-organized exhibition.

The thematic areas of the summit will include but are not limited to: bridging the start-up divide; artificial intelligence adoption; tech-driven future; community engagement and inclusive tourism; and the dawn of AI revolution.

Meanwhile, the first round of the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge has been completed. The judges have identified the top 20 finalists who will be immersed in the bootcamp prior to the selection of the top 5 finalists. The top 5 candidates will be announced at the summit in Johannesburg.

MICE Masterclasses for the youth and entrepreneurs, speed marketing, one-on-one meetings, career guidance clinic and brand activation platforms will be part of the exciting programmes of the 2025 youth summit.

Why Johannesburg

Johannesburg, a major hub of South Africa, offers a unique blend of rich history, diverse culture, and a thriving business environment.

The city, which is the heart of South African culture and business, also buzzes with energy and creativity.