A new partnership has signed between the China Outbound Travel & Tourism Market (COTTM) and the Africa Travel Association (ATA). According to COTTM, the new partnership will help to build stronger links between African tourism destinations and the Chinese travel trade.

The May travel trade show taking place in Beijing will welcome a significant number of exhibitors from Africa. A range of organizations from tourism authorities and travel agencies to safari organizers and hotel groups from Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe are now busy making their final preparations for the show.

With over 26 African nations having the ADS status, there are many opportunities for developing business opportunities. COTTM provides the ideal forum for African and international travel organizations to meet industry colleagues, exchange new ideas, hear advice from experts and establish new links.

Selina Wang, Project Coordinator of ATA`s Chinese Outbound Market, commented: We`re looking to further develop our relationships with the Chinese travel and tourism industry and we`re very pleased to be participating in COTTM this year. The exhibition presents us with a vast number of opportunities to cooperate on a number of tourism projects and we`re very excited also to attend the conference and hear from experts about what`s happening in the industry now and in the future.

Matt Thompson, Project Director for COTTM, said: We`re very pleased to have ATA on board and we look forward to working with them in the run up to the event this May. Africa is an increasingly important destination for the Chinese travel trade and there are some exciting investment and commercial developments taking place.