Gauteng invests in business tourism at Meetings Africa

Sandton – The Gauteng Tourism Authority (GTA) plans to further strengthen its position as South Africa’s premier business tourism destination at Meetings Africa, set to take place in Johannesburg later this month.

Meetings Africa, Africa’s top annual business tourism marketing platform, showcases products and services for conference or event organisers, managers of venues and corporate travel planners. It is a public / private partnership between South African Tourism and Thebe Exhibitions & Events and is presented by the GTA.

Cawe Mahlati, chief executive officer of the GTA says increasing both local and international business tourism to Gauteng is one of the organisation’s strategic priorities.  “We believe Gauteng is uniquely positioned as South Africa’s home of BusinessUnusual, providing the ideal getaway and allowing for innovative thinking.”

BusinessUnusual is a concept developed by South African Tourism, aimed at significantly growing business tourism so that South Africa can differentiate itself as a global meetings destination. This year, South African Tourism and the local chapter of Society of Incentive & Travel Executives (SITE) have secured the Annual SITE Board Summit to be held during Meetings Africa 2007.

Mahlati says Gauteng, as South Africa’s economic hub, has a highly professional and advanced meetings, incentive, conferences and exhibitions sector.  “It boasts over 430 conference facilities and hosts an average of 13 000 events annually.  More than 40 international airlines link the province to major centres worldwide.”

According to GTA research Gauteng achieved a phenomenal growth of nearly 30 percent in total Foreign Direct Spend through tourism from R13 billion to R16,6 billion in 2005.  This is expected to increase to over R35 billion in 2010.

“By investing in initiatives such as Meetings Africa, I believe we will be instrumental in realising the business tourism potential of Gauteng,” says Mahlati.  “Being home to Meetings Africa makes perfect sense for us.”

Meetings Africa will see some 200 companies in the business tourism industry displaying their products and services to local and foreign buyers at the Sandton Convention Centre from 28 February to 1 March.  It is the region’s only one-stop shop for meeting planners, event organisers and incentive travel professionals.

Carol Weaving, managing director of Thebe Exhibitions & Events says provincial tourism authorities and major local authorities will provide the generic base from which the private sector will market its products and services at Meetings Africa.  “These include some of South Africa’s top convention venues, hotels, lodges, tourist attractions and support services of the highest calibre.

“Interest in Meetings Africa from elsewhere on the continent has also shown tremendous growth.  There will be strong contingents of exhibitors from Zambia, Kenya and Mozambique for instance, as well as destination management companies that operate across the region.

“Essentially, everyone at Meetings Africa wants to grow their businesses and destinations and is working together to achieve this goal,” she says.

Meetings Africa is endorsed by the South African Meetings Industry Federation.

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