More attention is given now from the tourism industry and the government in South Africa for growing the MICE potential of the region. Towards this direction is the need for the establishment of a…
More attention is given now from the tourism industry and the government in South Africa for growing the MICE potential of the region. Towards this direction is the need for the establishment of a business tourism forum which will enhance the development of business tourism in South Africa according to the Department of Trade and Industry’s (dti) Director Tourism, Kate Rivett-Carnac.
Announcing the findings of research into the business tourism industry at the Meetings Africa exhibition in Johannesburg , Rivett-Carnac said the research found the industry highly fragmented with limited communications, hampering development.
“Furthermore, there is some role confusion between South African Tourism, the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, the dti, convention bureaus and provincial and city tourism organisations as well as other tourism associations. A single business tourism forum would enhance institutional cohesion and strengthen cooperation. As the research pointed to a lack of standardised definitions and relevant, applicable, comparable and consistent research, such an envisaged forum would coordinate all these functions to the advantage of the business tourism industry,” said Rivett-Carnac.
Rivett-Carnac added one of the forum’s first tasks would be to set agreed standardised definitions and define a joint research strategy in conjunction with organisations like South African Tourism, the South African Meetings Industry Federation and the tourism bodies of all the provinces. It should also facilitate a united South African destination business tourism product offering.
“The research suggested that the government should only support accredited and compliant venues and should improve the communications on SMME support and BEE plans.”
Officially opening the tourism business conference that preceded the Meetings Africa exhibition, Environmental Affairs and Tourism Minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk challenged the industry to raise its international standing to be within the top ten by 2010. Currently South Africa is ranked number 32 on the list of preferred international business tourism destinations.
Van Schalkwyk said business travel is a lucrative sector of the market, which ramps up tourism’s contribution to the economy. Business tourists currently make up five percent of South Africa`s total tourism market.
“I am certain that this figure will improve in the lead-up to 2010, and I believe that the industry’s vision of doubling this figure in the next three years is not overly ambitious. Business tourism contributed R2,3 billion to overall tourism revenue in 2005, representing just over four percent of the total,” the Minister said.
“If the proposed business tourism forum focuses on the suggested goals, meeting the Minister’s challenge would not be too ambitious,” concluded Rivett-Carnac.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
