South African Tourism has pulled out all the stops to ensure that this year's Meetings Africa is environmentally friendly in line with its mandate to promote sustainable tourism.
Acting CEO Nombulelo Guliwe said that for Meetings Africa 2024, South African Tourism had partnered with an entity to independently assess the event's sustainability aspect.
Delegates at this year's event are encouraged to go digital, including further using the App to limit reliance on paper. Other improvements at the event include easy access points for recycling.
"We have a responsibility to ensure that our current needs do not have a negative impact on the environment," she said.
Guliwe was speaking during a discussion on sustainability, adding that in another demonstration of a commitment to sustainability, Meetings Africa features the sustainability village, which features locally produced goods.
Regarding sharing best practices on sustainability, Guliwe said information sharing was critical.
"As the deputy minister said, Meetings Africa is also a platform for knowledge exchange, and no topic is off limits. It is important to share knowledge. It does not make sense to work in silos," Guliwe said.
Sthembiso Dlamini the CEO of Gauteng Tourism Authority said driving the township economy was top of the government’s agenda. She added that this was critical to sustainability because it goes hand in glove with market access.
Alison Ngibuini, the CEO of Kenya-based Al Is On Production a who was also one of the panelists, said strategies and policies to promote sustainability and reduce human-wildlife conflict were needed.
Frank Murangwa the director of Destination Marketing at Rwanda Convention Bureau of spoke of the Rwandan experience, saying the country made significant strides as the preferred destination for MICE events because it is intentional on many things. This has included being intentional in cleaning the country and investing in infrastructure.
Supporting SMEs and local businesses also came under the spotlight during a discussion on inclusivity. Happy Makhumalo Ngidi, the chief marketing officer at Proudly SA, said buying local products was critical to supporting jobs in the country.
On promoting market access, Ngidi said Proudly SA supports initiatives like the Makhelwane Festival in Soweto, intended to give township traders market access.
"You could have a great intellectual property, but if you do not have a market to sell it to, you will shut down".
Septi Bukula, the founder and director of Rendzo Network, echoed the sentiments, saying that market access is the priority for SMMEs. "Give SMMEs market access, and because they are entrepreneurs, they will take care of the rest."
Rendzo Network coordinates a national collaborative effort by SMMEs to deliver services. "Our mantra is if it can be done by an SMME, it must be done by an SMME."
He said this collaboration was now being extended across the continent.
Thato Mothapeng, the national coordinator of the South African Township and Village Tourism Association (SATOVITO), said SMMEs bring value as they bring affordability, efficiency and professionalism.