Global tourism’s spotlight hits SA with Skift Megatrends debut

South Africa’s tourism and hospitality sector has secured a major win with the Millat Group bringing the prestigious Skift Megatrends event to African soil for the first time.

The partnership will see the global launch of the Africa Megatrends 2026 report delivered atop Table Mountain at sunrise on Monday, 27 January 2026.

Read:
Africa’s tourism moment must be seized and the G20 should take note
Park Hyatt makes its SA debut

Skift Megatrends is widely considered the annual compass for the global travel industry, influencing the strategies of airlines, hotel groups, investors, and policymakers worldwide.

The 2026 edition is set to analyse the forces defining travel behavior and investment flows in the coming year, including the next phase of AI adoption and structural changes in hospitality and aviation.

The Millat Group played a decisive role in securing this event, aiming to elevate Africa’s visibility in the global tourism market.

Hamza Farooqui, founder and CEO of Johannesburg-based Millat Group, said that this is a milestone, commenting: “Africa belongs at the table where global tourism strategy is shaped”.

He emphasised that the partnership provides African leaders with direct, timely access to the intelligence that typically drives international investment and innovation.

Read:
Cape Town airport breaks all records with 11.1m passengers in 2025
Morocco, Egypt break tourism records as Africa’s top destinations

The 2026 report arrives at a critical juncture for African destinations as they navigate recovering global travel demand and intensifying competitive pressures. The intelligence provided by Skift will help local tourism boards and private operators:

• Refine marketing strategies and identify new growth corridors.
•  Understand shifting digital booking patterns and evolving traveller behavior.
• Address supply chain disruptions and the changing economics of hotel development.

Rafat Ali, CEO and founder of Skift, noted that launching in South Africa reflects the “energy, ambition, and leadership” currently emerging from the continent.

The exclusive sunrise launch will be attended by over 100 senior decision-makers from across Africa’s travel, hospitality, and technology sectors. Skift’s research and editorial leaders will present the findings, followed by discussions specifically focused on Africa’s unique tourism growth trajectory for 2026 and beyond.

Read/listen:
World Economic Forum meeting to return to SA shores in 2027
Cape Town gets ‘seven-star’ Marriott Edition hotel
Millat banks on more new SA Hyatt hotel properties

Follow Moneyweb’s in-depth finance and business news on WhatsApp here.