South AfricaISSUE 65 / ConfErEnCE & MEEtIngS World / 71''The success of the 2010 FIFA World CupTM was a great achievement for South Africa, showing that the country had the capacity, infrastructure, variety of tourism offerings and a nation of welcoming people, to stage any major international event, big or small," Roshene Singh, Chief Marketing Officer at South African Tourism (SAT), told CMW, adding that it was World Cup qualifies SA for next stageSoUth afrICa haS US$222M Worth of Major ConfErEnCE and EvEntS bUSInESS nEttEd for thE nExt fIvE-yEar pErIod aS It MakES ItS World CUp lEgaCy playWordS Paul ColstonSouth Africa's mark as World Cup host, the highest ever awardedFIFa9/10now up to the business tourism industry to leverage the new recognition that South Africa enjoys as a major international meetings destination. "Ranked as the leading business tourism destination in Africa (ICCA 2010), South Africa's USPs, according to Singh, include "unique combination of incentive offerings, spectacular landscapes, wildlife and cosmopolitan cities". SAT statistics show the next five years will see the country host more than 200 corporate meetings and association congresses and bring over 300,000 delegates into the country. "Our success in attracting events like the UN Climate Change Conference (COP17/CMP7) and the 123rd International Olympic Committee Session in 2011, demonstrate our ability to host above: vuvuzelas and South african verve captured the world's imagination

South Africa72 / CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD / ISSUE 65Below: The task is now transfering the goodwill and enthusiasm gained on and off the pitch into the conference hallIn five years South Africa will host 200 corporate and association conferences, attracting 300,000 delegatesSA TOURISM CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER ROSHENE SINGHon marketing the country. He also stated the number of airlines flying to South Africa had doubled over the past five years.Nina Freysen-Pretorius, SAACI National Chairperson, called for a dedicated team to be set up at South African Airways (SAA) to work on business tourism.She claimed there were still visa issues for certain visitors and said that while South Africa had "identified" the problem, other countries were providing visa exemptions to conferences delegates.These are all items, organisers hope, will be addressed by the new National Tourism Sector Strategy. Van Schalkwyk told the SAACI conference the national convention bureau should ensure a more coordinated approach: "We need to synchronise efforts to ensure that South Africa wins".Mati Nyazema, Executive Director of Sandton Convention Centre, has said a national umbrella bureau would open up opportunities to the provinces outside the three strong meeting cities of Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban. Calvyn Gilfellan, CEO of Cape Town Routes Unlimited, of which the Cape Town and Western Cape Convention Bureau is a strategic unit, believes the new national bureau must support the existing regional CVBs' programmes, "adding value to their efforts to market themselves as business tourism destinations".The Government's aim, meanwhile, is to increase foreign tourist arrivals to South Africa from seven million in 2009 to 15 million by 2020. and is hoping tourism's total contribution to the economy will rise from R189bn in 2009 to R499bn by 2020, creating 225,000 jobs in the process.Hotel over-supply?If the ambitious figures are to be achieved then the new hotel stock will be crucial. While pre-World Cup the complaint international events of any size and stature," said Singh.Hosting the World Cup put South Africa in the event big league. The country recorded the highest levels of satisfaction from FIFA (nine out of 10).The legacy includes increased accommodation options as well as new and renovated airports. The continent's first rapid rail link network, the Gautrain, now transports 50,000 passengers a week.This year's creation of a new national convention bureau is the latest evidence of renewed efforts to maximise the event legacy. It also brings into focus the kinds of challenges involved with moving to the next stage. Some industry professionals say the authorities still have to demonstrate the bureau has proper funding and a consistent management strategy.Economic recession and the ongoing challenge of securing subvention funding for international conferences are also issues exercising the South African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI). These, and the issue of more inbound flight capacity, were debated at the SAACI 18th National Conference in the summer where Marthinus Van Schalkwyk, Minister of Tourism, pledged R700m (US$95m) of the national tourism budget to be spent Southern African event suppliers will be out to demonstrate their value to the global industry at SAT's Meetings Africa show, which returns to Sandton Convention Centre, 28 February-1 March 2012. "We are working hard to ensure Meetings Africa 2012 offers improved quality, variety and experiences to global visitors," SAT's Roshene Singh told CMW.The 2011 event grew both the numbers of hosted buyers and pre-scheduled appointments, and an Association Day in 2012 promises a platform for national associations to grow membership and take advantage of global best practice. The private sector will also have the opportunity to network and do business.Meetings Africa