Host city, Johannesburg marked the second day of the SAACI 34th Annual National Congress by significant collaborative agreement with the association in an effort to restart business tourism in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As host city, and in collaboration with our industry partners, Johannesburg is thrilled to be providing the platform for not only “Changing Gear – Inspiring Change”, in line with this year’s SAACI National Annual Congress theme – but also as a role player in building confidence in business events, along with industry learning, growth and collaborating,’ says Executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Councillor Geoff Makhubo.
“Joburg is indeed the right and ideal destination to be seeking opportunities for networking, identifying future business prospects and collaborative initiatives.
We are proud to have been awarded this bid and to be the Host City of such a significant business gathering during this period where we are gearing towards restarting tourism.”
While promoting Joburg as Africa’s premier business and lifestyle tourist destination on all marketing platforms, locally, regionally and internationally – the current administration is dedicated to creating an enabling environment to achieve economic growth and improve investor confidence in Johannesburg.
The 34th Annual National SAACI Congress also marks a significant milestone for the City of Johannesburg – the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry [SAACI].
This remarkable collaborative arrangement will serve as a strategic intervention to turn around business tourism and help the city improve its economic performance in relation to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions or Events (MICE). It will be implemented over a period of three years with effect from the date of signing, to achieve common goals intended by both the public and private sector of the destination to improve goodwill and competitiveness.
“As the Executive Mayor of the City, I am making an undertaking right here in front of all industry patrons that I am available to endorse all catalytic MICE initiatives that will result in job creation and SMME development” says Makhubo. “I am doing this as a sign of ensuring goodwill to partnerships of this nature with organised business.”
As a strategic MICE intervention, the collaboration entered into today, will be underpinned by the following elements:
• Co-Bidding and Mutual Co-Ordination
• Enterprise Development
• Research, Statistics Analysis and Intelligence
• Business Events Promotion and Sales Activity
• Work Opportunities
• Youth Learning
• Joint Collaboration for MICE Strategic Initiatives
“If we embark on this journey in spirit of collaboration with positive intentions, Johannesburg will improve its MICE competiveness in Africa and globally,” says Makhubo. “As a result of this partnership, we should be able to improve on our International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) annual ranking. 2019 saw us in 6th place after Cape Town (South Africa), Kigali (Rwanda), Marrakech (Morocco), Nairobi (Kenya) and Cairo Egypt). Watch the space - we are working towards becoming market leaders through partnerships like this because we need to remain globally competitive to attract MICE business.”
EDITORIAL NOTE:
To watch the Welcome to Joburg - A City Reimagined campaign, click on this link:
https://www.facebook.com/VisitJoburg/videos/299209221138418
ABOUT JOBURG’S ACCOLADES:
• Johannesburg, Egoli, Jozi or Joburg - Africa’s Most Visited City since 2013 [according to the Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index released in December 2018] - is a vibrant, diverse, global, all year round destination for business, leisure and lifestyle, sports, the arts, fashion and design. And so the list goes on.
• Our extraordinary city boasts plenty of accolades as a destination, including making it onto TripAdvisor’s top ten list in the Travelers’ Choice Awards for Best Destinations in Africa [May 2018].
Released by:
Laura Vercueil: PR & Communication Manager Joburg Tourism
Department of Economic Development
City of Johannesburg
Tel: +27 11 779 0200
Email: laurav@joburgtourism.com
