South Africa. The annual Meetings Africa trade exhibition that showcases South Africa’s business tourism offering opened in Sandton yesterday with a 15 per cent increase in exhibitors compared to last year’s event. The strong message is that Business Tourism is set to grow in the medium to short term.  

In total, 211 businesses are offering their wares to the global travel trade. Of those exhibitors, 50 are at Meetings Africa for the first time. “It is enormously encouraging to see this strong growth,” said South African Tourism CEO, Moeketsi Mosola in his welcome address. “This sector of the industry has every reason to feel optimistic about growth. We enjoy this year, for the first time, partnerships with bid parties that are worth millions of Rands invested in growing not only Meetings Africa, but also business tourism arrivals to our destination.” 

Mosola said he was encouraged by the number of high caliber global meetings and conferences South Africa had recently won the right to host. They included the 2009 International Near-infrared Spectroscopy Conference (with 500 delegates), the 2009 International Congress on Occupational Health (4000), and the 2013 International Geological Congress (6000). South African Tourism acquired Meetings Africa in 2007. It is the second year the exhibition is being presented with South African Tourism as host. www.meetingsafrica.co.za