Rick Taylor appointed SAMIF chair

SAMIF, which acts as an umbrella body to advance member associations' common interests in the business tourism sector, was established in September this year. Members include the Exhibitions Association of South Africa (EXSA), the South African Association for Conference Industries (SAACI), the International Special Event Society (ISES), the Society for Incentive and Travel Executives (SITE), the Technical Production Services Association, (TPSA) the South African Federation of Convention Cities (SAFCC) and now, the National Convention Bureau.

Taylor's appointment completes the circle that will unite the efforts of industry and government to promote business tourism in South Africa.

He comments: "I am honoured and privileged to be invited by these captains of industry to steer and drive SAMIF, whose formation aligns the entire meetings industry with single-minded vision.

"This has always been the whole intention and vision within the Tourism Business Council for South Africa (TBCSA): to speak with one voice for business tourism."

The various associations all have a key role to play in this regard, he adds. One of the tasks he has set for SAMIF is for member associations to start playing a leadership role on the global stage, by interfacing with their international counterparts.

These include Meeting Professionals International (MPI); the Society of International Travel Executives (SITE); and the International Association of Convention and Visitors' Bureaus (IACVB) and the International Conference and Convention Association (ICCA).

"Local independent associations all play a strategic and relevant role in promoting business tourism. SAMIF will align each of them with a common purpose: to go into the worldwide market place and get South Africa onto international agendas via the appropriate and corresponding bodies overseas."

Taylor adds: "This collaboration could not be more timely, as we are entering, as a country, into one of the most exciting periods in the history business tourism."

He points to the three major international business tourism meetings that are taking place, for the first time ever, on local soil. Between 19-23 October, Cape Town will play host to BestCities.net, which promotes collaboration between member cities including Vancouver, Edinborough, Copenhagen, Boston, Melbourne, Dubai and Cape Town. Upcoming members, Singapore and San Juan, will also be present.

This will be followed by the 8th International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Congress and Exhibition from 24-27 October - whose members number 51 international associations - and the board meetings and global forum of the International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaux (IACVB).

Taylor believes these events are evidence that business tourism to South Africa stands on the threshold of unprecedented growth. "A tremendous sense of 'afro-optimism' abounds at the moment, in which the pessimistic myths surrounding South Africa as a tourism destination have been buried.

"Economic indicators are furthermore extremely healthy and business confidence levels are at a 16-year high. There has never been a better time for us to achieve the goals we are setting as SAMIF."

He adds that further evidence of this confidence comes from various cities. "In the Durban Convention Centre, business tourism is starting to boil, as it is in Cape Town's Convention Centre. Tshwane, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Port Elizabeth and Bloemfontein are similarly in the process of either setting up convention bureaus or generally preparing to ride the wave of growth in the exhibitions and events arena.

"Each segment of the industry represented by SAMIF - meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions - can play a major role in attracting business tourism to this country, so that the world's top business tourism leaders be able to see for themselves just what an exciting, exhilarating, and entertaining business tourism destination South Africa is."