2020 didn’t prepare us for the unforeseen outlook on industry events. We could have never imagined that Meetings would not hold for 2 years. When ‘Meetings Africa’ was cancelled last year, we had no idea when in the future we would be able to attend the next exhibition forum. Fortunately, the day finally arrived in 2022, and for the African MICE Industry, it couldn’t have come sooner.
Meetings Africa took place on the 1-2 March at the Sandton convention Centre. A total of 161 global buyers and 216 exhibitors from 13 African countries attended the flagship event. It is one of Africa’s biggest pan-African business events and is a platform where exhibitors such as hotel groups and tourism associations from across the country and continent can represent their services and meet with potential buyers who are looking to host conferences or meetings in Africa.
With a view to expanding the outlook for the events and tourism sector, the Minister of Tourism Lindiwe Sisulu said in an interview, “Opening trade corridors across the continent must also open pathways for intra-African tourism to thrive and vice versa. It is us, the African business events sector that has to be intentional and strategic in ensuring that we leverage this mutual benefit between trade and tourism,” she opined.
Uwin Iwin Incentives was in attendance, and David Sand (CEO) shared his optimism for growth and development in the South African tourism business saying, “It was a joy to attend the Meetings Africa 2022 trade show this week. It was a brave bold move by South African tourism to reboot the industry and a big investment was made to host buyers from around the world. Well done! It was also great to participate in the MICE Master Class as a speaker on the BONday (Business Opportunities Networking Day)”.
He went on to say, “The highlight of the day, was meeting the new Johannesburg Mayor Dr Mpho Phalatse. She is a dynamic new leader, a medical doctor by training, and shaking things up in the tough world of politics. Her commitment to business tourism and turning our loved city around was exceptional.”