South Africa’s Business Event Celebrates 20 Years of Democracy

The South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB) is celebrating South Africa’s 20 years of democracy at EIBTM this year, by reflecting on the significant growth of the business events industry on the African continent.

South African Tourism, the official destination marketing organisation of South Africa, is also honouring the tenth anniversary of Meetings Africa, an event dedicated to showcasing Africa’s diverse offering of services and products.

The tenth edition of Meetings Africa, hosted by the SANCB (a business unit of South African Tourism) is taking place at the Sandton Convention Centre, in Johannesburg from the February 23 to 25, 2015. Meetings Africa is the primary and most important platform, facilitating the growth of Africa in the business events market. The show will continue with its theme; Advancing Africa Together and the first day has been reserved for a number of workshops and seminars, dedicated towards driving the industry forward in the region.

This tenth anniversary of the Meetings Africa will not only mark a key industry milestone for South Africa as a meetings industry destination, but it will once again highlight the SANCB’s central and critical role in continental collaboration. Through continued partnerships, Meetings Africa aims to contribute towards the empowerment of the African continent for future economic beneficiation.

“Meetings Africa is where global buyers and exhibitors from all over the African continent meet, organise business events and in doing so help drive Africa’s, knowledge economy forward,” said Mr Thulani Nzima, Chief Executive Officer at South African Tourism.

“Last year South Africa hosted 118 meetings that met the ICCA’s criteria (up from 97 in 2012) marking a significant 18 percent improvement in this regard. The 118 meetings brought over 94 000 association professionals to South Africa and contributed an estimated R1.5 billion to our economy. Our event pipeline going forward continues to look extremely positive. We already have 143 association conferences and events confirmed between now and 2017,” Nzima continued.

Over the last 20 years, South Africa has seen a huge increase in inbound business. The destination continues to welcome delegates from all over the world, attending meetings, conferences, exhibitions and corporate incentive programmes.

“As a destination, we have built ourselves a track record that we can be proud of and we are confident that the next twenty years will bring even more success for South Africa as a leading meetings industry destination.”