Africa is the future In this time of uncertainty, we may only keep the faith and have hope for a better future.
T
he Covid-19 pandemic has certainly put the business events sector into disarray. With the harsh restrictions imposed, it has stopped most of our sector from operating during the various lockdown levels. Even at Level 1, the exhibition sector has still yet to open due to the ‘gathering’ number restrictions imposed, although shopping malls – and even markets – have no limits. Of all the laws, that is still the greatest mystery. Conferencing is at least able to operate, but is also restricted – to 250 indoors and 500 outdoors. Travel incentives will probably take a bit longer to return, as international travel to South Africa will take a lot longer to recover. This has much to do with the vaccination roll-out and trust in coming to our destination. From the various webinars which I’ve attended, most are saying that South Africa will, realistically, only see the return to 2019 international visitor numbers around 2023. Domestic business will be the first to recover, however, as many corporates are still working from home. The thought of getting together, at a venue, for a conference, meeting or event can be harrowing for many, hence the hybrid
event, where delegates have the choice of either attending in person or virtually. This will continue for the foreseeable future. However, there is always hope! Not all is lost… South Africans are resilient. I firmly believe that hope for our sector lies in regional tourism. We often like to say that we are ‘African’ when it is convenient to do so, but I think that through this pandemic, we have, in fact, started to embrace our Africanism and begun to collaborate with other African countries to find a way forward. No one is better able to understand us than our fellow African destinations. This is a big positive as, in the past, we overlooked our African partners in many ways. We have so much to learn from one another and our continent is the future. Business events in Africa will thrive if we begin to collaborate. Changes need to be made to make air travel more accessible between the African countries. An AU visa needs to be implemented and the visa application process needs to be streamlined and made easier to allow Africans to travel within Africa.
African associations should be looking at how to rotate their congresses and exhibitions within their continent. Incentive travel should look inward too, to the amazing African destinations and all their amazing offerings. This means more collaboration and cementing of partnerships with our fellow African countries. We are African – let us embrace it! There is hope and Africa is the future!
Irene
Email: gomesi@iafrica.com
yolande@mjunxtion.co.za www.mjunxtion.co.za
Credit: Hein Liebetrau
EDITOR’S COMMENT
