DAILY NEWS
Issue Issue Number Number 11 26 26 February February 2018 2018
MEETINGS AFRICA 2018: WHERE SHARING IS CARING
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Tokozile Xasa, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism: “Let’s keep Nelson Mandela’s spirit alive in 2018.”
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very warm welcome to Meetings Africa 2018 where, in the true spirit of Ubuntu, our theme is Shared Economies – because when we share, we lose nothing but rather enrich ourselves and each other beyond compare. This is a particularly a special year for us here in South Africa as 2018 marks the centenary of our dear late leader, and former president, Nelson Mandela’s birth. His flame of positivity and hope will be kept alive throughout South Africa’s #Madiba100 celebrations and we in the tourism industry will be celebrating his
life by visiting and promoting travel and tourism services that relate or connect to his legacy. After all, he is a global icon that people the world over still revere. In this spirit, we are looking forward to an energising Meetings Africa 2018 where ideas are shared, partnerships are explored, common ground is found and handshakes are exchanged, all in the name of advancing Africa and its burgeoning business-events industry together. This year, we are proud to host 21 products from about a dozen countries from the rest of our continent, in addition to our South African exhibitors. Together, we
will be showcasing the continent’s offerings to at least 180 international hosted buyers, as well as 50 African association buyers and no fewer than 60 local corporate buyers. We are also, of course, being joined by visitors, journalists and event professionals from across the globe. Buyers will be spoilt for choice as the continent’s exciting meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) industry shows them that Africa is THE best place to host their client’s next major international business event. As President Cyril Ramaphosa stated in his State of the Nation Address, we have the most beautiful country in the world and the most hospitable people. We also have the infrastructure, the expertise and the unparalleled natural assets to elevate an ordinary event into an extraordinary one. On this year’s trade floor, we are particularly proud to have 15 small tourism businesses among the 300 tourism products and services being showcased. We call them our “hidden gems” as many of them are yet to be unlocked, discovered and explored. Please take the time to visit and chat with these entrepreneurs – you will discover true self-driven empowerment in action. Also, the Sustainability Village will be open during lunch breaks – it’s a great opportunity to snap up some innovative and authentic gifts as Africa enthusiastically embraces socially and ethically responsible tourism as our “new normal”. We cannot uplift small businesses in the leisure tourism and business-events spheres without elevating women. Our
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Women in Tourism 30-in-5 initiative is part of a movement to achieve 30% female representation in executive and leadership positions in tourism within five years. Similarly, another five-year goal is our “5-in-5” strategic goal – to attract five million additional leisure tourists and business events delegates to South Africa in the next five years. As you are aware, tourism, including business events tourism, is regarded around the world as a vital catalyst for economic growth and job creation. In Africa it is no different. With this in mind, I hope our exhibitors find great value in our Business Opportunity Networking Day (BONDay) educational sessions and talks, and wherever you hail from across the world, I wish you all a busy, fruitful and successful Meetings Africa. Let’s continue to carry the torch high and continue to grow the African business-events industry! Tokozile Xasa South African Minister of Tourism
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