Bay’s business tourism needs venue boost

AN appropriate exhibition facility and a robust marketing programme would help Nelson Mandela Bay secure a larger share of the R1-billion in economic spin-offs from South Africa’s exhibitions, conference and events industry.

Speaking as the new national president of the Exhibition and Events Association of Southern Africa (Exsa), Port Elizabeth-based Inkanyezi Events chief executive Andrew Binning was responding to questions around the status of this sector in the Bay.

Binning, 46, has served as a board member of the industry body for the past two years, and is its first president from the Eastern Cape.

“We do have some great conference facilities in the Bay,” he said. “But what we do seem to lack is an exhibition facility which could accommodate things like cars or heavy equipment.

“A facility where, like in Johannesburg, they hold international defence industry and auto expos.

“Take the introduction of the Chinese car company into the city,” he said.

“This development increases the size, value, significance and status of Nelson Mandela Bay as an automotive hub – and by extension the city’s potential to host conferences, exhibitions and events around the automotive industry.”

There would be significant benefits if there was a greater focus on marketing the region as a business, investment and business tourism region, he said.

The Eastern Cape’s profile as an event destination was growing and it would be an increasingly attractive option for event organisers going forward.

“Access to Big Seven, malaria-free game viewing is a unique and sellable feature of the Eastern Cape.”

Binning confirmed that business tourism and “confexs” – a combination of conferences and expos – were among the latest trends in the sector.