Meetings Africa puts business tourism on the map
A record number of some 1500 people visited Africa's biggest business tourism exhibition, Meetings Africa this week. This is nearly 100% higher than the first-day figures last year. The two-day exhibition held at the Sandton Convention Centre is a one-stop-shop for people involved in corporate events and travel.
Arranged by the Thebe Exhibitions and Events Group, Meetings Africa is displaying products and services from the entire business tourism industry, including venues for special events and conferences and incentive travel options.
Group Managing Director Carol Weaving says buyers, both local and international, have expressed their appreciation of the conducive business environment created at the exhibition.
"We fully release that business tourism is a niche market, very competitive and difficult to sustain if service delivery is not constantly enhanced. We will continuously communicate with customers to ensure that we render a level of service they deserve and of which we can be proud.
"Johannesburg and Meetings Africa is now without a doubt the capital of the business tourism industry in South Africa, as Durban and the annual tourism Indaba is seen as the capital of the leisure tourism industry," she says.
Some 80 international buyers attended the exhibition, courtesy of the Department of Trade and Industry (dti). They represent some of South Africa's most important overseas tourism markets, including countries like Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.
The dti also kicked off a comprehensive research project at Meetings Africa, aimed at establishing the exact growth potential of business tourism in South Africa.
The dti's Director of Tourism Kate Rivett-Carnac says among others, the research investigates how to better understand high growth niche tourism segments, opportunities and current supply of product in South Africa.
"Also of importance are the trends, challenges, size and potential of business tourism in South Africa and how other countries have managed to substantially grow their business tourism segments as well as the export potential.
"Furthermore, the annual number of domestic and foreign business tourists in South Africa will be determined, the money that they spend and the expenditure patterns as well as what motivates their consumption pattern.
"In terms of transformation and empowerment in the industry, the research will highlight the current status and will pay special attention to Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). Key areas for BEE research will include ownership, management, employment equity, skills development, preferential procurement, enterprise development and corporate social investment. The research is expected to be completed by July," she says.
