“GOOD HUNTING” MINISTER TELLS MEETINGS AFRICA Marthinus van Schalkwyk minister of Tourism
MEETINGS AFRICA 2012 opened yesterday at a packed Sandton Convention Centre where National Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk told delegates that the continent’s biggest business tourism exhibition had come of age and grown considerably in stature in its ninth year.
T
HE Minister welcomed more than 200 international hosted buyers attending Meetings Africa from 18 markets around the world, including the United Kingdom, USA, Australia, Kenya, Germany, Netherlands, China, Brazil and Nigeria. He wished them a produc-
Please recycle me
tive and profitable event and invited them to enjoy South Africa, and make the most of their time here. He had one message for exhibitors. “Good hunting,” he said. “Use this opportunity to sell your products, services and experiences. It’s a rich and exciting global market, and this is your opportunity to make the most of it.” “We have superb capability and infrastructure for business tourism here in South Africa. Besides the three big national convention centres, we are home to numerous other facilities that give the world’s meetings and conference organisers the same quality, variety and
choice that South Africa offers across the larger tourism sector. Meetings Africa is a resource for the entire industry to network, exchange ideas, learn from global leaders in the industry and to conduct deals to grow both their own insights into trends and developments in the industry, as well as grow arrivals for the destination. It has become the biggest and most important resource for the industry, and an event we all look forward to with immense excitement and anticipation,” the Minister said. “People fall in love with South Africa, whether they are here on holiday, or as business tourism delegates. Business tourism delegates deliver a return rate of 40 percent, and almost half of them return with a partner – close to double the return rate of a destination such as Australia.” The outlook for the sector was excellent, he said. South Africa had already secured more than 200 international conferences for the next five years. These would attract about 300 000 delegate arrivals and would contribute more than R1.6 billion to the economy. However, the destination was not resting on its laurels and would continue to work to meet its target of supporting at least another 30 bids this year that targeted 18 000 delegates and another R162 million for the economy. “It’s looking good. It’s looking excellent. We are absolutely serious about boosting our global competitiveness in business tourism. And we have every reason to be confident, for South Africa offers what no other destination on earth can – outstanding infrastructure; beauty; capability and warmth; friendship; hospitality and a passionate, dedicated and committed industry.”
Published by