South Africa to Showcase at IMEX America 2024: Expanding Global Tourism Reach

Johannesburg – The South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB) is thrilled to announce its participation in IMEX America 2024, a pivotal global trade show for the business events industry. Scheduled from 8 to 10 October in Las Vegas, this event serves as a strategic platform for South Africa to showcase its world-class MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) offerings and expand market access for local tourism businesses, especially small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs).

The goal of the SANCB is to grow South Africa’s business events and secure a pipeline of international business events to be hosted in the country. It creates market access platforms to connect with buyers and generate leads for the whole country, adding value to the business events sector.

IMEX America attracts thousands of industry professionals, including buyers, planners, and decision-makers. It provides South Africa with a valuable opportunity to highlight its diverse tourism offerings, such as the iconic Kruger National Park, Johannesburg's vibrant city life, and the Garden Route's scenic beauty. These offerings allow South Africa to forge strategic global connections and attract investment to boost the sector's growth.

South Africa's MICE sector is on a robust growth trajectory, with revenue projected to increase from US$6.9 billion in 2019 to an estimated US$10.2 billion by 2028. "Our participation at IMEX America is a strategic move to bolster this growth and cement South Africa's position as a premier business events destination," said Nombulelo Guliwe, Chief Executive Officer of South African Tourism.

The country's tourism sector demonstrates remarkable tenacity, having welcomed 2.4 million visitors in the first quarter of 2024—a 15.4% increase from the same period in 2023. This growth underscores South Africa's allure as a travel destination and the criticality of participating in global events like IMEX America. In line with the National Development Plan 2030, South Africa aims to attract 21 million international tourists by 2030.

"We are proud to bring 15 innovative SMMEs and 21 exhibitors from various provinces, each representing the country's unmatched capacity to host world-class business events and offer unique tourism experiences. "These businesses will have the opportunity to network with international buyers, showcase their unique offerings, and contribute to positioning South Africa as a top destination for business events," Guliwe highlighted.

Some of the standout SMME participants include:

• Buja Tours (Gauteng): A family-owned destination management company renowned for crafting authentic incentives and travel experiences throughout Southern Africa.
• Khalanga Safaris (Mpumalanga): Specialising in overnight safaris in the iconic Kruger National Park and immersive cultural tours, Khalanga Safaris is committed to delivering high-quality, bespoke travel experiences.
• Syavaya Corporate Travel (KwaZulu-Natal): Known for offering tailored travel solutions for the MICE industry, Syavaya Corporate Travel has recently launched VIP chauffeur services, showcasing its commitment to providing premium experiences for business travellers.

"We are proud to showcase the best of South Africa at IMEX America. Our diverse exhibitors and SMMEs highlight the rich experiences we offer to international clients," said Guliwe. "SMMEs are vital to our tourism industry. By giving them a platform to reach global buyers, we are supporting their growth and contributing to the economic development of our country," she insisted.

South Africa's participation at IMEX America follows significant achievements in the tourism sector, hot on the heels of being ranked highest in Africa in the 2024 Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) by the World Economic Forum. The TTDI assesses the factors and policies that support sustainable development in the travel and tourism industry across 119 economies. This recognition underscores South Africa's leadership in sustainable tourism and enhanced visitor experiences, showcasing its endurance and commitment to building a strong and sustainable tourism industry.

The CEO made a special plea: "We invite the world to join us in South Africa, whether for leisure or business. Our warm, pristine beaches, vibrant cities, diverse cultures, and world-class facilities such as the Durban International Convention Centre, Cape Town International Convention Centre and Sandton Convention Centre–make us the ideal destination for business, work and play."

“South Africa’s participation at IMEX America 2024 underscores its dedication to expanding the tourism sector, which already sustains over a million local jobs and supports numerous businesses. It also strengthens the country’s standing as a leading destination for business events. We look forward to connecting with industry leaders and stakeholders at IMEX as South Africa continues to make its mark on the global stage,” concluded Guliwe.

Full list of participating Exhibitors including SMMEs

• Besty Travel – DMC - Limpopo
• Travel Click - Travel Agent & Tour Operator Services - Western Cape
• Fairest Cape Meander Tours - Tour Operator - Western Cape
• Dawn Travel & Tours – DMC - Gauteng
• Ubuhle Be Narha Tours - DMC/Tour Operator - Gauteng
• Mbombela Experience Tours & Safaris - Tour Operator - Mpumalanga
• Nano Travel – DMC - Gauteng
• Under African Skies - Tour Operator - KwaZulu-Natal
• Thabile Tours & Shuttles – DMC - Free State
• Sowetoo Tours – DMC - Gauteng
• Solo Travel Tours & Car Hire – DMC -KwaZulu-Natal
• PSN Frenzy Travel – DMC - KwaZulu-Natal
• Khalanga Safaris – DMC - Mpumalanga
• Syavaya Corporate Travel – DMC - KwaZulu-Natal
• Buja Tours – DMC – Gauteng
• Dragonfly Africa & Green Route Africa - DMC - Western Cape
• Sandown Tours and Incentives – DMC - Gauteng
• Aquila collection - Tourist attraction - Western Cape
• Peermont Hotels. Casinos and Resorts - Accommodation/Conference venue - Gauteng
• Century City Conference Centre and Hotels - Accommodation/Conference venue - Western Cape
• Southern sun - Accommodation/Conference venue - Regional
• Cape Town International Convention Centre - Conference venue - Western Cape
• andBeyond - Accommodation/DMC - Gauteng
• Sandton Convention Centre - Conference venue - Gauteng
• Nelson Mandela Bay Convention Bureau - Destination marketing/ Bureau - Eastern Cape
• Ikewana Events – DMC - Gauteng
• African Visitors – DMC - Gauteng
• Newmark Hotels and Reserves – Accommodation - National
• Amazing Africa – DMC - Gauteng
• SA Safaris Tours – DMC - Western Cape
• The Mad Lab - DMC - Western Cape
• Durban International Convention Centre - Convention Centre - KwaZulu-Natal
• Westin Hotel Cape Town – Accommodation - Western Cape
• Wilderness Safaris – DMC - Gauteng
• Cape Town & Western Cape Convention Bureau - Tourism Authority - Western Cape
• Unique Speaker Bueaur International - Speaker Bureau - Gauteng