AACB EYES INT’L INNOVATION

THE Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) is expecting Australia to attract 223,000 international delegates over the next 10 years in its latest Forward Calendar.

The int’l attendees would fill 460 Qantas A380s and will join 118,000 local delegates.

AACB ceo Andrew Hiebl said globally, business events were being used as a tool to attract trade, investment and international talent.

“Governments are investing in the business events sector not just because of its high yield, but also the long-term benefits accruing from growth in the visitor and knowledge based economies,” he said.

Healthcare and Social Assistance, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, and Administrative and Support Services were the top three industries for the number of int’l delegates attracted.

The Healthcare and Social Assistance sector will bring 77,500 delegates to Australia.

AACB president Karen Bolinger said international business events were important facilitators in helping Australia achieve its innovation objectives.

“Innovation and science are critical for Australia to deliver new sources of growth, maintain high-wage jobs and seize the next wave of economic prosperity,” she said.

Despite a strong number of delegates, Hiebl said Australia was missing 268,000 great minds who would go elsewhere due to lost business.

He added that Australia needed to entice more innovators to come and share their ideas in the country.

“Conventions and exhibitions are the ideal forum in which such collaboration can take place and lead to greater commercialisation through the bringing together of scientists and researchers with private enterprise and investors,” he said.