KwaZulu Natal is in the running to be a leading meeting and conference destination at Meetings Africa 2023, held between 27 February and 1 March at the Sandton Convention Centre. The KwaZulu Natal Convention Bureau (KZNCB) and Tourism KwaZulu Natal (TKZN) are dedicated to promoting the position.
Picture: GettyImages
Meetings Africa 2023 has 352 exhibitors from 23 African countries and 340 international buyers from 57 countries. There are also seven new African countries exhibiting, a testament to the growing importance of the African market in the global events and tourism industry.
‘By attracting mega business events and many smaller conferences across the province, the KZNCB plays an important role in the recovery of the KwaZulu Natal tourism sector,’ said Mr Nhlanhla Khumalo, Acting Chief Executive of TKZN.
‘In 2022 the KZN Convention Bureau staged over 26 business events which generated an economic impact estimated at R2.2 billion and for the 2023 year it has already bagged over 30 business events to be hosted across the province, which will contribute enormously to the economic recovery of the province.
‘Meetings and conferences are the main contributors to growing business tourism in our province, and we want to attract a lot more of this business to KwaZulu-Natal, which offers top-class convention and meetings facilities and pre- and post-conference travel,’ said Khumalo
In 2022, the KZN Convention Bureau was again voted Africa’s leading meetings and conference destination by the prestigious annual World Travel Awards, a title it has held for eight consecutive years.
More generally, in South Africa, in 2019 business tourism contributed more than R115-billion to the country’s GDP, creating almost 252 000 direct and indirect jobs.
At Meetings Africa the province’s business tourism offerings will be showcased in partnership with the following key tourism partners:
- KZN Sharks Board
- Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife
- uGu South Coast Tourism
- iLembe Enterprise
- City of uMhlathuze
- Olive Convention Centre
- Okhahlamba Tourism Office
- Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality
- uMfolozi Casino and Hotel
- Logikal Events (SMMEs)
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