BASA CEO appointed to South African Tourism Board and wins prestigious award

"The recognition by CEO magazine and being asked to be on the SAT Board is truly an endorsement of the good work that my colleagues at Business and Arts South Africa are doing as a whole, and of their incredible support - and I am thrilled with both honours," stated Constant.

Constant was named the regional winner (South Africa & SADC South) of the Arts and Culture category at the CEO Awards event held at the Vodacom Dome in Midrand on July 28th. Aimed at honouring Africa's Most Influential Women in Business and Government and Titans - Building Nations, She will now represent the region at an upcoming, continent-wide awards event, joining winners from Mauritius, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Ghana, Zambia and Namibia.

The CEO magazine accolade comes a few months after Constant was officially named to the SAT Board.

"We are very pleased to welcome Michelle to the SA Tourism Board," said chairperson, Vincent Zwelibanzi Mntambo. "She will make a great contribution to the effort to market South Africa as a destination as she deeply understands the contribution that arts can make to tourism and vice versa. Her knowledge, networks and passion for the arts, tourism and destination South Africa will help us to take on the challenges ahead with greater confidence."

Kwanele Gumbi, Chairperson of BASA, said, "Michelle brings the detail and depth of the arts sector for the improvement of the South African Tourism brand. Her energetic and creative approach will help drive focus to the value of the arts and culture tourism."

Constant said her appointment meant she will be able to lobby and advocate for cultural and artistic tourism to be placed prominently in South Africa's tourism marketing mix.

"I am excited to be able to engage in an ongoing conversation about the role that arts and culture tourism can play in drawing both internal and international visitors to different parts of this beautiful country," commented Constant.

"You only need look at global benchmarks like the Venice Art Biennale and the upcoming Edinburgh International Festival to understand the powerful attraction of the arts to a broad cross section of visitors. The National Arts Festival has also just proved locally that it is capable of growth, with total number of tickets issued increasing by nearly seven percent, even in a tough economic climate and at a time when the arts are facing increasingly difficult challenges.

"Alongside being in a strong position to place the arts as an essential part of our tourism mix, I am honoured to have joined such an esteemed board. I am sure that I can learn a great deal from my fellow board members in a way that can only benefit that business and arts nexus that BASA is focused on."

About BASA (NPC):

Business and Arts South Africa (NPC) is an internationally recognised South African development agency with a suite of integrated programmes implemented nationally and internationally. Business and Arts South Africa (NPC) encourages mutually beneficial partnerships between business and the arts, contributing to corporate success and securing the future development of the arts sector in South Africa. Business and Arts South Africa (NPC) was founded in 1997 as a joint initiative of the Department of Arts and Culture and the business sector as a public/private partnership.