ACI Africa Conference set to feature strong commercial focus

AFRICA. This year’s ACI Africa conference, which takes place in Livingstone, Zambia on 22 March, will feature a dedicated commercial workshop.

The Commercial Forum aims to explore the commercial opportunities for African airports and examine how they can capitalise on the strong passenger growth forecast for the region. It will take place from 10.00-12.00 at Avani Victoria Falls resort, which is hosting the ACI Africa Conference.

ACI Africa noted: “The success and potential of African airports risk being hampered by rules and regulations that directly challenge their ability to generate commercial revenues. Creating a platform for the exchange of best practice and know-how will help to counter emerging threats, grasp new opportunities, and position the African airports business favourably to realise growth potential.”

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Victoria Falls: The stunning backdrop for this year’s ACI Africa Conference

ACI Africa said that the Forum would interest all stakeholders involved in commercial concessions, including food & beverage, airport advertising, car parking, property and real estate, among others.

After an introduction by ACI Africa Secretary General Ali Tounsi, ETRC Secretary General Keith Spinks will moderate the Forum. Other participants will include m1nd-set Travel Retail Research Director Clara Perez, Dufry Group CEO Southern Europe & Africa Pedro Castro and Gebr Heinemann Sales Director Africa Stephan van Groningen.

Passenger traffic in Africa is forecast to grow by +5% a year over the next 20 years, reaching over 300 million passengers a year. The top ten fastest-growing markets in percentage terms will be Sierra Leone, Guinea, Central African Republic, Benin, Mali, Rwanda, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Madagascar. Each of these markets is expected to grow by more than +8% each year on average over the next 20 years, doubling in size each decade.

The ACI Africa Commercial Forum will become a regular feature at ACI Africa events, said the association. ACI Africa said it expects around 200 delegates at the conference.

*In August 2012, The Moodie Davitt Report (then The Moodie Report) Deputy Publisher Dermot Davitt chaired a session on commercial revenues at the ACI African Region Annual Assembly, which was also held in Livingstone. The session featured contributions from Airports Company South Africa, Dufry and Tourvest Duty Free.

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