APTA is pleased to announce that Christo Brand will be a keynote speaker at the APTA Global Forum being held in Cape Town, South Africa September 26-30, 2023.
Afrikaner farm boy Christo Brand joined the South African prison service at age 17 to avoid having to serve in the military, as all white males were required to do under the apartheid regime. He found himself guarding men he was told were the country’s most notorious terrorists: Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu, Ahmed Kathrada – names that would later become legendary worldwide for moral and political heroism.
The lifelong friendship Brand forged with Mandela is the subject of his memoir, “Doing Life with Mandela – My Prisoner, My Friend”, first published in 2014. In September 2022, the updated and revised version of Christo’s book was launched. The book’s London launch was presided over by Mandela’s daughter Zindzi, at her late father’s behest.
Christo has toured many countries around the world and become a highly sought after public speaker. He is one of those rare people still alive who knew Mandela so intimately – as a prisoner, president and after his retirement. It was no surprise that on Mandela’s passing, his family invited Christo to be a guest of the family at his funeral in Qunu in December 2013.
APTA is the largest and leading travel trade organization in North America promoting tourism to Africa and the Forum is a great opportunity to bring a strong group of African travel specialist to Cape Town, particularly since North America has become the largest source market for tourism arrivals for Africa.
This is the first time that APTA has held the Global Forum on the African continent, so this will be a great opportunity for travel advisors from North America to experience and explore one of the most beautiful cities in the world and network with a delegation of hoteliers, safari operators, destination management companies and tourism organizations from throughout the African continent. Whether you are an African specialist, a travel advisor that is interested in learning about selling Africa or a tourism partner, the APTA Global Forum will be an excellent chance to get information on the latest trends, destinations, and products to further develop your business and tourism to Africa.
More information can be found at https://aptaglobalforum2023.eventbrite.com/
