1. South Africa boasts world-class convention facilities: Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg are the country’s major convention cities and boast internationally acclaimed facilities. Since 2001, the World Travel Awards have named one of these three centres as the best conferencing venue in Africa. In addition, new international convention centres are planned for Pretoria (Tshwane) in Gauteng, Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape and Bloemfontein in the Orange Free State, while there are more than 1 700 smaller conferencing venues across the country.

2. South Africa is an attractive country to do business: South Africa is currently ranked 28th by the Union of International Associations (UIA) as a top meetings destination; and is ranked 18th on the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Index as an attractive foreign investment destination. South Africa hosts 23% of all meetings in Africa and, for a second year in a row, Cape Town is recognised as Africa’s most popular meeting destination.

3. South Africa has an enviable track record: South Africa hosts approximately 860 international conference events annually. In 2006 there were 25,917 exhibitors with a total of 3,7 million visitors attending. The range of South Africa’s hosting track record includes the UN World Summit on Sustainable Development (2002), the International Aids Conference (2007), and the World Economic Forum (2007).

4. South Africa enjoys continued hosting success: The American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) has chosen South Africa as the venue for the 2009 International Destination Expo. The country will also host, amongst others, the World Social Security Forum in 2010, the World Critical Health Care Conference in 2013, and World Pharma in 2014.

5. South African airports get a face lift: with an eye toward the 2010 World Cup, the Airports Company of South Africa (ACSA) has injected R5,2 billion into extensions and refurbishments at the country’s three main airports – OR Tambo International, Cape Town International and Durban International. Construction has begun on a new international airport north of Durban and the Polokwane International has just received a new terminal worth R45 million.

6. More flights added all the time: Getting to South Africa has never been easier. With additional flights from Air France recently introduced, there are now 28 flights weekly between Johannesburg and Amsterdam and Paris. South African Airways also recently added a service between Johannesburg and Munich, while they also operate daily services between Johannesburg and both New York and Washington DC. Dubai-based Emirates Airlines has added 4 new flights to bring their tally to 18 flights a week to Johannesburg.

7. Transport infrastructure improved: While improvements to major highways are currently underway, construction on the Gautrain rapid rail commuter link has also started. Scheduled for completion in 2010, the Gautrain will link Johannesburg and Pretoria to OR Tambo International. A new R18 million luxury bus terminus at the Pretoria Station is also under construction.

8. South Africa continues to win awards: Aside from triumphing in numerous Best In Africa categories, South African service providers also scored big in the Overall World Wide categories at the 2007 World Travel Awards. Johannesburg’s Saxon was named the World’s Leading Boutique Hotel, Shamwari Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape was voted as both the World’s Leading Conservation Company and Safari/Game Reserve, and Rovos Rail won the World’s Leading Luxury Train.

9. We’re popular with visitors too: The Condé Nast Traveller Reader’s Choice Awards for 2007 voted the Table Hotel in Cape Town as 8th best in the world, Cape Town as the top city in Africa and the city as the 5th most popular in the world. Meanwhile, the 2007 Travel and Leisure Magazine World’s Best Awards announced that 9 local hotels and resorts were in the Top 100 Hotels in the World.

10. Business and pleasure combined: Nowhere else in the world can you combine business with pleasure as you can in South Africa. A magnificent climate, a passion for nature and the great outdoors, a menagerie of wildlife, world-class sporting facilities – including superb golf courses – and a rich social, cultural and political history combine to create a unique experience for the world traveller.

You can also view more information about us by following the links below:

• The BT team at SA Tourism
• Our Mandate
• Support for Convention Bureaus & Product Suppliers
• Glossary of Terms & Acronyms