Chairperson,
Thank you for the opportunity to address the SAACI 2010 conference. I appreciate the invitation to share with you some of our perspectives from the side of government.
If this was a meeting of a conference industry association anywhere other than in South Africa, I would probably have stood in front of you today to explain why the "glass is half empty". I would probably have used the occasion to reflect on the turbulent times for the global travel and tourism sector, including business tourism, following the 2008/09 global financial crisis.
Fortunately, as Minister of Tourism in this exceptional country, I can proudly stand here today to reflect on why "our glass is more than half full". Not only have we bucked international trends over the past two years, but by hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup so successfully we have shown the world that we are capable and equipped to deliver on its highest expectations.
Our increased destination awareness, our infrastructure legacy, and our expanded skills base all lend significant credibility to our competitiveness in bidding for and hosting other global mega events, though not only mega events.
We also understand that our bread and butter do not come from mega events alone, but from every meeting, convention, incentive programme and team building session that we host across the country, from our international convention centres to the smallest venues off the beaten track. Our track record as a country, and your track record as an industry, position South Africa as a business and events tourism destination par excellence.
It goes without saying that the hard work should continue if we want to keep our glass more than half full. We have established ourselves as a high profile destination that needs no favours; we can compete with the best in the world. The challenge is to capitalise fully on this reputation, on the warmth and hospitality of our people, and on our modern, new infrastructure, and to maintain the very high standards that we achieved during the world cup.
When looking at the impressive list of meetings, conferences and conventions already scheduled for the next few years, I am encouraged to see that we seem to be maintaining the momentum after the milestone of the world cup.
That being said, we must recognise that the global market has become increasingly competitive. A close partnership between government and industry is critical as we navigate our way to even greater success. We therefore greatly value our partnership with industry, and especially the joining of forces between SAACI and SA Tourism, to improve overall service delivery to the South African meetings industry.
Rest assured that, from our end in government, we will be strengthening our capacity in support of your efforts to secure bids for major events and conventions. We are currently consulting on the possibility of the establishment of a National Events and Convention Bureau in order to ensure an integrated and coordinated approach.
Not only will we enhance our coordinating function between industry, bidding associations and sports federations, thereby eliminating duplication of effort, but we will also strengthen the dedicated business unit tasked to drive meetings and large events into South Africa in a focused and aggressive fashion.
We will do so because we appreciate the vital role that you play in the tourism economy, but also the broader economy. This industry, maybe more than any other, understands that business and events tourism has the ability to unlock new markets, and holds great potential to improve the seasonal and geographic spread of tourism within South Africa. By its very nature, this industry is a powerful communicator of Brand South Africa.
As government, we will continue to ask how we could do more to leverage the drivers of success, especially through quality assurance, media and marketing, airlift and trade, brand alignment and coordinated bidding.
As we work in partnership with industry, you will also hear us ask how you are succeeding in leveraging these opportunities to unlock the potential of our people and cultures even further, to build a greener industry, to ensure universal accessibility, and to support our development and transformation objectives as a country.
Let me turn to one particular theme to which I trust this industry will respond proactively, namely the interface between travel and tourism and the green economy. Increasingly, the adoption of sustainable environmental practices is becoming part and parcel of bidding processes for the full range of global events. To remain competitive, this industry will have to position itself as leaders in sustainability, or risk losing out.
This industry holds huge potential to support a transition to a low carbon economy, and to help drive the changes required in consumer lifestyles. Rather than waiting for government to regulate its carbon footprint, its recycling practices or its commitment to other environmentally responsible practices, I encourage the industry to initiate its own processes to develop and measure the attainment of standards, and encourage adherence.
Government norms and standards, and maybe even regulations, would have to come sooner or later, but at that point, I trust industry will have already become our leading partners.
Not only does it make business sense, but it is the right thing to do for future generations. I am convinced that, in a few years from now, we will be looking back in disbelief about days gone by when not all major conferences or events were carbon neutral.
By this I do not understand superficial "green washing" of events, but a fundamental change in the way we do business. Yes, the off-setting of emissions is important to achieve net zero carbon emissions, but my challenge to you goes much deeper than that. It is about drastically changing the way we consume energy.
What is required is a sustained effort to cut back the carbon footprint of this industry in all the dimensions of its value chain. This includes energy efficiency retrofitting of accommodation and conference venues, switching to greener or renewable energy sources, improving the design of new buildings, promoting lower carbon transport options, and green procurement throughout the supply chain and promoting changes to consumer behavior. We want you to be the dynamic leaders in this revolution and not the reluctant followers.
Chair, let me conclude by thanking the industry for working with us in taking Meetings Africa to new heights. The 2011 Meetings Africa will be more technically advanced and streamlined than ever before. The business networking facility will be upgraded, and there will also be an increased focus on corporate visitors and the associations market. I look forward to joining you once again at this gateway to business in Africa in February next year.
I thank you.
Media enquiries:
Ronel Bester
Tel: 021 465 7240
Cell: 083 242 7763
E-mail: rbester@tourism.gov.za
Speech delivered by Mr Marthinus van Schalkwyk, Minister of Tourism at the opening of the South African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI) 2010, Elangeni Hotel, Durban
