SA top African business travel destination
2012-07-30 14:56
Johannesburg - South Africa remains in the top 15 ‘long-haul’ business events
destinations in the world and is the premier business events destination
in Africa, says Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
“Our
ambition is to compete with the biggest and best business events
destinations in the world,” he told delegates at the opening of the
annual Southern African Association of the Conference Industry
conference on Monday.
“As government continues to focus on
tourism as one of the key job creating sectors, we recognise business
events tourism as an area with significant growth potential,” Van
Schalkwyk said.
Government had established the first South
African National Convention Bureau (SANCB) to further promote growth in
the conferencing industry. The SANCB is tasked with co-ordinating
national bidding, undertaking research and collaborating with City and
Provincial Convention Bureaus and the business events industry to
present a united front for destination South Africa, he said.
He
said for the next five years, South Africa has already secured over 200
international conferences, that are estimated to attract 300 000
delegates and an additional R1.6 billion to the economy.
In
2011, according to a departure survey, South Africa had 392 000 business
travellers, of which 140 000 attended conferences and meetings.
Van Schalkwyk said his department had set a target of 15 million international
arrivals by 2020 and that SANCB was targeting 81 500 convention delegates and 130
association meetings by 2020.
For this to be achieved, the country had to increase the business events
industry by 57%.
It also had to double the sector's contribution to tourism and improve
geographic distribution.
Van Schalkwyk said his department would need to support at least 30 bids for
international meetings this year with a potential of 18 000 delegates.
These would contribute R162m in direct economic spend.
The department wanted to grow the average number of delegates attending
international conventions in South Africa from an estimated 54 000 in 2012 to
78 000 by 2017.
"These are targets we can reach, but to do so will demand deepening our
partnership."
Hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the United Nations' COP 17 Climate Change
Conference had proved the country's credentials, he said.
"We are also identifying key industries and sectors that can help us to
win more meetings and will work closely with local industry associations."
Van Schalkwyk said government was focusing on creating conditions that would
help bids succeed.
These included building infrastructure, enhancing air travel, especially from
Africa, and streamlining visas.
"We must ensure that our people share in the benefits of MICE tourism
growth... we must create special skills to deliver service excellence and the
capacity of SMMEs to share in its benefits."
According to the country rankings by the International Congress and
Convention Association, including both long- and short haul
destinations, South Africa ranks 37th:
1 US - 759
2 Germany - 577
3 Spain - 463
4 United Kingdom - 434
5 France - 428
6 Italy - 363
7 Brazil - 304
8 China-P.R. - 302
9 Netherlands - 291
10 Austria - 267
11 Canada - 255
12 Switzerland - 240
13 Japan - 233
14 Portugal - 228
15 Republic of Korea - 207
16 Australia - 204
17 Sweden - 195
18 Argentina - 186
19 Belgium - 179
20 Mexico - 175
21 Poland - 165
22 Finland - 163
23 Turkey - 159
24 Singapore - 142
25 Denmark - 140
26 Norway - 138
27 Chinese Taipei -131
28 Greece - 127
29 Malaysia - 126
30 Hungary - 125
31 Czech Republic - 122
32 Colombia - 113
33 India - 105
34 Ireland - 105
35 Thailand - 101
36 Chile - 87
37 South Africa - 84
38 Hong Kong, China-P.R. - 79
39 Croatia - 72
40 Russia - 69
