The release of the meeting Africa 2025 held on the Speech Johannesburg Stock Exchange by the Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Reel
Maggie Sotiu, Deputy Minister of Tourism
Mayor of Johannesburg Economic Development, Cll Nomoya Mnisi
Professor Gregory David of the SA Tourism Bureau
SA Sightseeing CEO Nombulelo Guliwe and Sa Tourism Executive Management
All sightseeing partners of the private sector and the government of various governments
Media members
Good morning, Morweni
Thank you for participating in us today, and thank you for continuous support to move the African business event sector.
I am excited to reach the meeting that Africa has reached the 19th edition.
For the past 19 years, the platform has played a very important role in transforming and advancing the African business event industry.
I would like to thank those who succeeded in this business event for the first time.
With Gauteng Tourism Authority, Johannesburg Tourism Company, and Sandton Convenition Center, take a long time to recognize South Africa sightseeing, a bidding party partner.
Earlier last year, the 2023 International Conference and Convention Association ranked South Africa as a major destination for meetings, incentives, and events (mouse) in Africa and the Middle East.
My call is that in order to maintain South Africa as a destination for the number one business event in Africa, innovation, high -quality connections and partnerships continue to spread the boundaries.
G20 Summit: Important business events held in South Africa
This year is a special year not only for South African business event sector but also for the rest of the African continent.
South Africa took over Brazil in 2024 and undertaken the 2025 G20 Summit presidential position in 2026.
This groundbreaking event was held for the first time on the African continent, and in 2025 we held more than 130 meetings hosted in South Africa, and solidified as a destination for major tourist events and business events in South Africa. Bring more than 40 global heads to the coast.
The Summit promises great profits for business events and a wider range of tourism, as the G20 countries account for 85 % of the world economy, 75 % of international trade, and 67 % of the world's population.
As the only African member of the G20, South Africa provides important voices on global discussions, especially the problems that influence the developing countries and the African continent.
The G20 Summit and Ministerial Meeting will be held under the theme of “solidarity, equality, sustainability”.
In addition, South Africa will introduce the ability to host a safe and successful global event, and further enhance our country's international reputation. This is an opportunity for us to openly welcome.
I am looking forward to holding the G20 meeting of the Minister of Tourism held in Mup Maranga in September this year.
Meeting Africa's value and profit
Meetings Africa 2025 aims to continue to provide unique African destinations and business events by unleashing the African opportunities through high -quality connections.
This year's major functions of Africa include promoting continent diversity through newcomers of exhibitors.
Similarly, Meetings AFRICA 2025 attracts industry leaders, local stakeholders, international buyers, event planners, suppliers, and policy planners, and promote collaboration within the mouse sector.
This event focuses on enabling meaningful networking opportunities to support industry growth and functioning as a platform for business transactions, knowledge sharing, and sectors crossing sector.
One of my favorite features in the African conference, in accordance with promoting economic impacts through access, continues to be the educational department of the event. It plays an extraordinary role in providing important networking opportunities to the new SMME and providing important networking opportunities overseas.
Every year, through the market access support program, the Tourism Bureau provides funds to small and medium -sized enterprises, participates in Africa and other tourism shows, and is exposed to ensure more business with global players.
This year, this division has funded 26 small and medium -sized businesses from all over the country, and has participated in meeting Africa with more than 190 exhibitors who have confirmed showcases on a trade floor so far.
Economic impact of mouse
The mouse industry plays an important role in the local economy by creating hospitality, event management, tourism, and employment of related departments.
Our insights and research have shown that the influence of the African meeting has been serious for many years.
According to the economic impact assessment entrusted by South Africa sightseeing, the total direct expenditure in South Africa created from last year's conference Africa has increased by 13 % compared to R128 million in 2023. It is done.
The purpose of a show like a meeting Africa is that Africa will surely acquire a fair share of the business event market.
Similarly, Meetings AFRICA 2025 emphasizes the economic interests of the mouse industry and positions events as a powerful propulsion for investing, innovation, and employment creation.
According to the Allied Market Research, global meetings, incentives, meetings, and exhibitions are expected to be about $ 5230 billion in 2023, and will grow to $ 1 trillion in the next five years.
The South African mouse industry was evaluated as $ 6.6 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow significantly in the next five years.
The South Africa National Bureau (SANCB) may invest R146 million in 81 business events and fascinate more than 37,900 international and regional representatives between 2024 and 2029.
So far, South Africa has secured 53 bids submitted for business events and conferences. These safe business events contribute to the South African economy to about 616 million locks and attract more than 24,000 international and regional representatives.
A safe conference also contributes to the spread of business events. They will be hosted by Johannesburg, Twne, Eklefrene, Cape Town, Port Alfred, Gukubeha, Magariesburg, Sun City, Richard Bay, Porokwane, Malder Fluff, and Stellenbos.
In addition to economic interests, mouse sector creates knowledge exchange, innovation, and more powerful collaboration in Africa. 2024 International Development Association for Kenya's Secretary of Africa (IDA)
For example, we have gathered many of our respected leaders and revealed an ambitious shared change agenda.
Another example is the African Impact Summit in Ghana this year, promised a stimulating dialogue on responsible investment in Africa.
The moment of these connections is valuable, and all African countries have many years.
Similarly, I told Kenya, Ghana, and Uganda, and flew the flag for the continent because I won the top spot in the last 2024 Earth Shot award sponsored by Prince William in Cape Town last November.
With, we have won the African title and have made great progress while solidifying the podium as a destination for choice.
Reliable tour operator Skeam (TTO)
One of the important improvement we have made in recent months is that South Africa has rationalized its visa process.
This includes a reliable tour operator scale for the main source market, India and China.
In addition, a reliable tour operator Skim (TTO) has a simple visa process for group travel from two major source of sources and China by enabling the appointed operator to promote group applications through the Ministry of Home Affairs. I will make it.
The scheme aims to alleviate travel barriers and place South Africa as a preferred destination for Indian and Chinese travelers.
Other visa improvement includes the recently announced electronic travel approval (ETA) and digital nomads visa.
The improvement of these visas is expected to promote arrival from important markets.
Arrival of the latest leisure sightseeing performance
On the leisure sightseeing front, the positive trajectory of the South African tourist sector has been proven by arriving in South Africa.
Since only a month is left to end 2024, I am excited to report on the arrival of more than 79 million tourists from January to November 2024 and have grown 5 % year -on -year. I am.
During this period, South Africa welcomed 6.1 million arrivals from the remaining parts of the African continent and increased by 5.5 % year -on -year.
South Africa welcomed nearly 2 million tourists from other areas in the overseas market between January and November, and increased by 3 or 2 % compared to the same period in 2023. Ta.
Domestic sightseeing also plays an important role in our recovery, and South Africans are rediscovering the beauty and experience that our country must provide.
In conjunction with the national development plan, the government is actively working on barriers to international tourism to achieve 15 million visitors a year by 2030.
To achieve this, a new important development is an airway development marketing strategy approved by the Cabinet on December 4, 2023. The Tourism Bureau is to carry out with the private sector.
South Africa aims to unlock the possibility of sightseeing in economic growth and employment by rationalizing travel processes and investing in infrastructure and strategic marketing.
A meeting Africa -like platform, scheduled for the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg on February 24-26, is essential to introducing Africa's collective strength to international buyers.
By cooperating, you can move forward to the prosperous and prosperous tourist sector that supports economic prosperity throughout the continent.
Thank you again for continuous support for talking about the revival and growth of Africa. Together, we are on the way for a bright future.
Finally, I remember that business events will be in business and experience our country as the best leisure destination, so business events will contribute to driving leisure tourism. Please do.
I am looking forward to holding a great business event show this year, and we are looking forward to seeing you as we are building a connection for Africa's common prosperity.
Thank you everyone, the blessing of God.
About meeting Africa
Southern Africa is a proud partnership with Gauteng Tourism Authorid, Johannesburg Tourism Company, and the African premier business event trading show We are pleased to hold the 19th edition of ICAS. The honorary rally will be held at the Johannesburg Sandon Convention Center from February 25 to 26, 2025, and on February 24, 2025, the Business Obusment Networking Day (Bonday) will precede.
Meetings Africa is a major platform that introduces various business event products and experience in Africa. Under the theme of “Africa's success built based on African quality connection,” this event emphasizes collaboration and knowledge to promote continental success and growth.
This year, Meeting Africa will reconnect hundreds of exhibitors, buyers, and major decisive determination from the global business event sector. This is a platform designed to promote engagement, create impactful connections, and unlock new opportunities in the African business event industry.
This event plans to amplify positioning as a world -class destination for African business events, as African countries over the age of 19 and 52 international markets are expected. The Conference Africa 2025 utilizes the prominent recovery of the tourist sector and the possibility of promoting economic growth throughout the continent.
Media Inquiries:
Zara Nicholson
Cell: +27 (0) 79 416 5996
Email: znicholson@tourism.gov.za