Programme to attract business events

South African Tourism (SA Tourism) has revealed its new strategic look for this year's Meetings Africa, which will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, from February 27 to March 1, 2023. The South Africa National Convention Bureau (SANCB) is calling on organisations, corporates and associations to submit applications for the Bid Support Programme. It provides financial or non-financial support, with the aim to attract international business events (meetings, incentives, conventions and trade exhibitions) to the destination that meets the programme's minimum criteria.

In addition, this programme includes the provision of support to organisations, corporates and associations for the execution of projects aligned with government policies and priorities. Bid support is recognised nationally and internationally as one of the most important factors for attracting various types of business events, particularly those affiliated with international associations. Since the start of the 2022/23 financial year, the SANCB has sourced and submitted 79 bids for international business events to be hosted in South Africa between 2022 and 2029. The 79 bid submissions have a combined estimated economic impact of R1 billion and can potentially attract 40,512 international and regional delegates to South Africa between 2022 and 2029.

Thus far, South Africa has won 34 of the bids submitted for the 2022/23 financial year. These secured business pieces will contribute R288m to South Africa's economy between 2022 and 2025 and attract 13,085 international and regional delegates. The SANCB invested R17.3m in bid submissions through its Bid Support Programme to attract business events linked with the National Government's development priorities.

https://www.southafrica.net/gl/en