There is vast scope for business tourism growth in Africa as the continent receives only 3.1% of total global business tourism, says Fedhasa Cape Chairman, Dirk Elzinga.

Speaking at a media briefing in Cape Town on November 24, he welcomed the imminent launch of South Africa’s first National Convention Bureau (NCB), saying it would improve the marketing of the country as a conferencing destination. The NCP will be launched at the Meetings Africa business tourism trade show in Johannesburg at the end of February next year.

“The marketing of South Africa as a conferencing destination has not been good. South African Tourism for many years did not get their act together and we have been pleading for many years for a national convention bureau. We’re optimistic about the NCB,” he said.

Elzinga said the Cape Town Convention Bureau worked “reasonably well” and there was “good co-operation” between the CTCB and the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC). However, he said, the CTCB was going through transformation because of the April 2012 scheduled launch of the Economic Development Partnership (EDP) that would lead economic development in the province.

Susanne Faussner, alternate Chairman of Fedhasa Cape’s small accommodation segment, said it was very important for Cape Town to become more of a business destination because this affected airlift to the city. “If there are not enough passengers in front of the plane, it becomes uneconomical for airlines to fly here, so the business segment must sustain the leisure market,” she explained.

Small Accommodation Segment Chairman, Carole Armstrong-Hooper, said the business market had saved many accommodation providers during Cape Town’s past dismal winter.  She said many small hotels and guesthouses relied on their fixed business clientele and repeat visitors.