SA's business conferences earn R1,6bn

Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk told delegates at the Meetings Africa 2012 conference that a newly established National Convention Bureau at South African Tourism was driving national business tourism.

According to the Business Live report, he says the bureau's target for 2012-13 will see it supporting at least 32 bids with the potential to attract a further 18 000 delegates and generate direct economic benefits worth R162m.

He says that South Africa boasts a 40% return of delegates as leisure visitors -compared with Melbourne in Australia, which has a 23% return - while 43% of all delegates bring an accompanying person with them. A leisure tourist spends at least R1 000 a day while in South Africa.

For more:

• Business Live: New SA business tourism boost worth R1.6bn
  
• Fin24: New business tourism boost worth R1.6bn
  
• Meetings Africa 2012: Meetings Africa 2012 website