Stakeholders in the tourism industry will be converging on South Africa for this year’s Meetings Africa, to discuss how to improve the continent’s hospitality sector.
Meetings Africa, one of the continent’s largest business exhibitions, which will be held between February 28 and March 1, 2023, is with expanded participating countries of 21 African countries, higher than the previous events.
Speaking with The PUNCH on the significance of the event, the National Public Relations Officer, Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria, Mr Wale Olopade, said the meeting would provide room for connectivity and collaboration among African countries, adding that the continent has a market that attracts other countries around the globe.
He said, “This event will bring Africa together for them to think out of the box as well as look for windows of connectivity, and collaboration within the Africa Continent. The new model in business is collaboration.
“There is always sabotage from the Western world. If Africa is not together, we cannot achieve anything. Africa is the goldmine that the world is looking for. There is no country in other parts of the world that does not want to have business with the continent.”
According to South African Tourism Acting Chief Executive Officer, Themba Khumalo, the increased number of African exhibitors was an indication that leaders throughout Africa recognised the business events industry as vital to their economy.
He said, “As Africa’s economy shifts towards a technological future characterised by the Fourth Industrial Revolution, more nations are building their business events industries to attract foreign investors and businesses.
“We have the technological and infrastructural capabilities to host big events, much like other industrialised nations.
Couple that with African hospitality and warmth and you have a recipe for a kaleidoscopic experience, one that immerses you into the fabric of this great continent.
“There are high-quality delegates that attend the trade show, thanks to an independent vetting process that selects only the best buyers in the world.”
He disclosed that 275 buyers from 45 countries had been approved to attend.
