AAVEA is delighted to announce the appointment of its Advisory Committee, a group of respected leaders from across Africa’s attractions and tourism sector. Its members work in aquariums, destination marketing, family entertainment and adventure parks, and together they bring a broad, practical view of what it takes to run and grow visitor experiences on the continent.

The Committee will provide strategic insight and sector expertise to the AAVEA Board and Secretariat. Its members will help shape AAVEA’s priorities, offer guidance on the issues facing attractions and visitor experience operators, and strengthen collaboration between members, partners and the wider tourism industry. Their input will help keep AAVEA’s work relevant, practical and responsive to the needs of the sector.

Meet the Committee

Alichia Nortje is Head of Revenue & Guest Experience at the Two Oceans Aquarium, where she has spent more than 20 years progressing from Personal Assistant to senior leadership. She oversees the full revenue portfolio and front-of-house operations, and has played a key role in major development projects, the Aquarium’s Covid-19 reopening strategy and the design of a bespoke ticketing system. Alichia also serves as a Board Member of AAVEA. She brings deep expertise in revenue optimisation, pricing strategy and visitor experience design.

Mputle Dikobe is Trade & Marketing Manager at the Gauteng Tourism Authority, with more than 20 years’ experience in destination marketing, trade development and market intelligence. She leads Gauteng’s participation at platforms such as Africa’s Travel Indaba and WTM Africa, manages strategic partnerships across domestic, regional and international markets, and chairs the GTA’s Bid Selection and Policy Review Committees. Mputle brings strong continental trade networks, a deep understanding of the attraction ecosystem and a commitment to inclusive tourism that gives small enterprises genuine market access.

Gisela Keyser is Operations & Financial Director of The Train Park, which runs three family entertainment attractions in the Western Cape: Winelands Light Railway, Century City Tramway and The Blue Train Park. Her responsibilities span financial governance, operations, compliance and strategic growth. Gisela contributes a strong governance mindset and practical experience in growing attractions responsibly, including positioning them to appeal to both local visitors and tourists.

Jonathan Goosen is the founder of several trampoline and adventure park brands, including Rush Indoor Trampoline Park, The PlayStation Adventure Park, Playdate Super Park and FREEDOM Adventure Parks. With more than 13 years in the indoor family entertainment sector, he has moved from operator to owner and brings experience in park design, operations, safety, customer experience and expansion. FREEDOM Adventure Park Canal Walk was named Canal Walk Retailer of the Year in 2024 and Entertainment Retailer of the Year in 2025.

Looking Ahead

AAVEA thanks each member for giving their time and expertise to the Association. We look forward to working with the Committee as we continue to build a stronger, more connected visitor experience sector across Africa.

As before, I’ve kept the Committee’s functions general because I don’t have its terms of reference, and Alichia’s Board role comes from her CV, so please confirm both before publishing. I can also add a short line on how to contact the Committee or AAVEA if you’d like a call to action at the end.