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Meetings Africa, the continent’s biggest business tourism exhibition opened its doors at Johannesburg’s Sandton Convention Centre yesterday morning (27 February). Meetings Africa, into its fourth year, is attended by local and international business tourism professionals that arrange meetings or events in the corporate, government and association sectors.
Angeline Lue, General Manager, Business Tourism at South African Tourism, owners of the event, says Meetings Africa is now the key driver behind business tourism in South Africa, forming an integral part of the Business Tourism Growth Strategy.
She says an estimated seven percent of all tourist arrivals to South Africa for 2007 will be business tourists. This amounts to some 550 000 arrivals compared to 470 000 in 2006.
“The business tourism market is particularly lucrative. Most delegates are high spenders, usually accompanied, and spend time travelling around on pre and post tours. It is ideal for addressing the more equitable spread of tourism spend, geographic spread and the issue of seasonality.
“We are pleased to see so many local corporate visitors availing themselves of the wonderful variety of experiences delivered by the South African business tourism industry."
International buyers at the exhibition are hosted courtesy of the Department of Trade and Industry and South African Tourism.
According to Lue business tourists, on average, spend three times more than leisure travellers and up to 40 percent of business travellers return to a destination within five years. Eighteen percent of business travellers go on tours prior to their business activities, while 22 percent do the same afterwards.
She says Meetings Africa is being established as a ‘must attend’ event on the international business tourism calendar and that South Africa is seen as a fresh destination in this market. “Where else in the world can you view the Big 5 in the morning and shop at world-class shopping facilities a few hours later? Doing business in South Africa, and indeed, hosting an event or conference here, is a unique experience, hence the name of our marketing campaign – Business Unusual.”
Meetings Africa takes place in Johannesburg every February. The exhibition is open to visitors until Friday, 29 February.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
