The Africa Coastal Marine Tourism Conference continues to build an impressive lineup of tourism leaders and experts who are shaping the future of travel and destination development across Africa. Among the speakers confirmed for the conference is Heidi L. Halgryn, a seasoned tourism professional with more than 23 years of experience in tourism growth, marketing and destination development across multiple continents.
Halgryn’s career has been defined by her ability to drive strategic tourism marketing, destination positioning and stakeholder partnerships in dynamic and emerging markets. Over the years she has worked across both the private and public sectors, helping destinations strengthen their tourism competitiveness and international appeal.
Early Tourism Career in South Africa
Halgryn began her tourism career in the early 2000s in South Africa, where she contributed to several tourism initiatives aimed at promoting the country as a premier travel destination. Her work focused on eco-tourism and adventure tourism campaigns, helping position South Africa’s natural landscapes and wildlife experiences to global markets.
Her early contributions helped build a strong foundation in tourism marketing, destination branding and market positioning, skills that later shaped her global tourism projects.
International Tourism Development Experience
Following her work in South Africa, Halgryn expanded her career internationally as an expatriate tourism consultant and strategist, working across various regions of the world.
Between 2005 and 2010, she was involved in tourism development initiatives in Russia, where she worked on strategies aimed at improving tourism infrastructure and increasing international visitor appeal.
Her global tourism portfolio also includes work across Brazil and Colombia in Latin America, where she contributed to business-linked travel initiatives and destination promotion strategies.
In East Africa, Halgryn worked on developing safari tourism circuits in Kenya and Tanzania, strengthening regional tourism routes and enhancing international travel experiences.
Her work in West Africa included community-based tourism initiatives in Ghana and Nigeria, focusing on empowering local communities through tourism development.
Halgryn also played a role in bridging tourism markets between Europe and Africa through cross-continental trade expos and tourism collaboration platforms.
Supporting Tourism Development in South Africa
Despite her extensive international experience, Halgryn has consistently advocated for stronger tourism development within South Africa, particularly in rural and underdeveloped destinations.
In 2023, she joined the public sector and is currently working with Kouga Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape, where she actively promotes tourism development initiatives.
Her work focuses on supporting leisure tourism and business tourism, with a special emphasis on VTSD (Villages, Towns and Small Dorpies) tourism development. This approach aims to unlock tourism opportunities in smaller communities and rural areas that often remain overlooked in mainstream tourism planning.
A Voice for Emerging Tourism Markets
Throughout her career, Halgryn has consistently highlighted that tourism remains underdeveloped in many parts of South Africa, especially in rural landscapes with significant cultural and natural tourism potential.
Her work focuses on helping emerging destinations gain global visibility through simplified but effective marketing strategies, allowing smaller regions to compete in international tourism markets.
At the Africa Coastal Marine Tourism Conference, Halgryn is expected to share insights on destination development, tourism marketing strategies, and how emerging tourism regions can build sustainable growth while connecting to global travel markets.
Her extensive international experience and commitment to tourism innovation will add valuable perspective to discussions on how Africa’s coastal and rural destinations can unlock new tourism opportunities.
To register to attend the event visit https://marinetourism.co.za
