Meetings Africa regains popularity

INTEREST in this year’s Meetings Africa exhibition, which ended yesterday, was significantly higher than last year, according to many of the show’s exhibitors. Data from the show indicates that around 1 500 people attended the show, representing nearly a 100% increase from the first-day figures last year. Last year’s event failed to attract a high number of delegates, blamed mainly on the date change: last year it was held in July where before it was held in February. Some exhibitors attribute this year’s good turnout to the international hosted buyers programme. Some 80 international buyers attended the exhibition, courtesy of the Department of Trade and Industry (dti). Highlights of this year’s exhibition were the first-ever Business Tourism Conference and the launch of the dti’s research project which aims to better understand high growth niche tourism segments, opportunities and current supply of product in South Africa. (Darren Sandras) darrens@nowmedia.co.za