The Exhibition Association of Southern Africa (EXSA) and the Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC) have commissioned Grant Thornton to research the economic impact of the exhibition industry.
These facts and figures will demonstrate the worth of the exhibition sector as part of business tourism and will aid all within the exhibition industry to market themselves more effectively.
The goal is to gain an understanding of the size and impact of the exhibition industry on the South African economy and on the tourism industry. "It is important for a sector to know its value in order to set targets and goals. The results of the research will enable our industry to claim its rightful place in business and more specifically, in the marketing mix," says Carol Weaving, an Executive Committee member of EXSA who is driving this initiative.
This research will commence in May 2006 and is expected to be completed by September 2006.
 and the Johannesburg Tourism Company (JTC) have commissioned Grant Thornton to research the economic impact of the exhibition industry.)
