Cape Town - In a bid to position and market itself as a world-class business tourism destination, the City of Cape Town has secured ten conferences and conventions to be held during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The conferences are expected to bring a combined 16 300 business tourists to the city and contribute approximately R166.3 million to the Western Cape and specifically Cape Town's economy, according to the Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU).
CTRU, the Western Cape's official tourism destination marketing organisation, said by securing bids to host the majority of international conferences which are held on the continent, the city has achieved the status of the number one ranking convention destination in Africa.
Cape Town is also ranked 29th on the International Congress and Convention Association's (ICCA's) Global Ranking Report. This confirms that it is a business tourism destination of choice for conference planners worldwide.
Acting Chief Executive of CTRU Calvyn Gilfellan said the world cup would provide the Western Cape, South Africa and the African continent with an unprecedented opportunity to market themselves as not only a world-class, but also unique tourism destination.
"While we have the world's eyes on us and we are preparing to receive thousands of soccer enthusiasts we must use this opportunity to position our destination in such a way that those who will be visiting South Africa in 2010, visit the Western Cape and that they return soon for more, bringing with them their friends and family.
"We believe that having conferences and events running parallel to the soccer tournament will help us to achieve this.
"Should Cape Town's facilities get filled up, we have five other regions in the Western Cape that stand ready to host delegates," he said.
A team from CTRU is currently attending the 46th ICCA Congress and Exhibition in Pattaya, Thailand taking place until 31 October, the organisation said in a statement.
They are there to promote Cape Town and the Western Cape as a preferred business tourism destination by establishing new business relationships and gaining expert knowledge on the latest international business tourism trends.
The organisation explained that the conferences that would be held in Cape Town in 2010 included:
* Lausanne III, International Congress on World Evangelisation, which is expected to draw 5 000 delegates and an economic impact of approximately R77.4 million;
* the International Union of Food Science and Technology World Congress, expected to draw 2 000 delegates and an economic impact of approximately of R23 million and
* at least 1000 delegates are expected to attend the International Communication Conference (IEEE ICC), which will have an economic impact of approximately of R14.5 million.
The Cape Town and Western Cape Convention and Events Bureau and its partners have secured at least 15 international association bids for Cape Town and the Western Cape during the 2006/2007 financial year.
The conferences are expected to bring a combined 16 300 business tourists to the city and contribute approximately R166.3 million to the Western Cape and specifically Cape Town's economy, according to the Cape Town Routes Unlimited (CTRU).
CTRU, the Western Cape's official tourism destination marketing organisation, said by securing bids to host the majority of international conferences which are held on the continent, the city has achieved the status of the number one ranking convention destination in Africa.
Cape Town is also ranked 29th on the International Congress and Convention Association's (ICCA's) Global Ranking Report. This confirms that it is a business tourism destination of choice for conference planners worldwide.
Acting Chief Executive of CTRU Calvyn Gilfellan said the world cup would provide the Western Cape, South Africa and the African continent with an unprecedented opportunity to market themselves as not only a world-class, but also unique tourism destination.
"While we have the world's eyes on us and we are preparing to receive thousands of soccer enthusiasts we must use this opportunity to position our destination in such a way that those who will be visiting South Africa in 2010, visit the Western Cape and that they return soon for more, bringing with them their friends and family.
"We believe that having conferences and events running parallel to the soccer tournament will help us to achieve this.
"Should Cape Town's facilities get filled up, we have five other regions in the Western Cape that stand ready to host delegates," he said.
A team from CTRU is currently attending the 46th ICCA Congress and Exhibition in Pattaya, Thailand taking place until 31 October, the organisation said in a statement.
They are there to promote Cape Town and the Western Cape as a preferred business tourism destination by establishing new business relationships and gaining expert knowledge on the latest international business tourism trends.
The organisation explained that the conferences that would be held in Cape Town in 2010 included:
* Lausanne III, International Congress on World Evangelisation, which is expected to draw 5 000 delegates and an economic impact of approximately R77.4 million;
* the International Union of Food Science and Technology World Congress, expected to draw 2 000 delegates and an economic impact of approximately of R23 million and
* at least 1000 delegates are expected to attend the International Communication Conference (IEEE ICC), which will have an economic impact of approximately of R14.5 million.
The Cape Town and Western Cape Convention and Events Bureau and its partners have secured at least 15 international association bids for Cape Town and the Western Cape during the 2006/2007 financial year.
- By David Masango, BuaNews
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