Sixth SETE Conference to position SA as sports and events tourism destination

Image Source: Going Places SA

The two and a half-day Conference will focus on the importance of partnerships looking at a global public-private partnership case study and its impact on the establishment of convention and event bureaus in South Africa; event sponsorship trends, the impact of technology on the events industry, and travel behaviour and trends of golf tourists, which are among the key issues to be debated at this year’s conference. Global and national experts will share insights and case studies in each of these sessions.

“Sports and events tourism is a growing global industry with significant economic implications for both the event and the impact of travel and tourism-related benefits on host destinations,” says Sugen Pillay, commercial director at Thebe Reed Exhibitions and the programme director for the Sports and Events Tourism Exchange Conference. “Since its inception, SETE has become the meeting place for key decision-makers in the sports and events tourism industry to network, do business and debate issues of national importance affecting the growth of the sports and events tourism sector.”

Delegates over the past five years have included international buyers from more than 20 countries. The business generated by the conference has significantly contributed to the South African sports and events tourism industry.

City of Tshwane the ideal host city

“This is the 6th Edition of the annual Sports and Events Tourism Exchange and the second year it will be hosted by the City of Tshwane,” says Pillay. “Tshwane is the ideal host city for a conference of this nature. The city has a rich sporting heritage which spans iconic football clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns and Supersport and the Lions rugby franchise, the High-Performance Centre at Pretoria University and 18 golf courses, not to mention the Tshwane Open, which forms part of the 2016 Sunshine Tour and is co-sanctioned with the European Tour.” The City will also be launching its recently developed event strategy aimed at prioritising investment in growing the events tourism industry of Tshwane.

Pillay also notes that with more than 135 embassies and diplomatic missions in the city, and the CSIR International Convention Centre offering superb facilities and exhibition venues, it is not surprising that Tshwane is attracting more and more international events. “We are honoured to be in the City of Tshwane for a second year, and look forward to another successful SETE conference and all the opportunities that will surface for the South African sports and events tourism industry,” he concluded.

To join the Sports and Events Tourism Exchange Conference Connect Edition you can register online and secure your seat for R4,500 excl. VAT which include access to networking events and an online diary profile to schedule meetings with fellow stakeholders and International Hosted Buyers.