The agency is the brainchild of the City of Johannesburg, whose mandate is to market and conscientious the joburgers on the products offering within the city.
Currently, Joburg identified as the ‘Gateway to Africa’ is ranked 142 globally and third in Africa.
The auditing was compiled by one of prominent organizations the International Congress and Convention Association, based on the number of rotating international association meetings hosted in a particular destination.
“Joburg’s dramatic improvement in its ICCA rankings is thanks to a collaborative effort with our industry partners, peers and stakeholders,” says acting CE at JTC Phelisa Mangcu.
“Last year our Convention Bureau embarked on an intensive consultation with the industry during the course of refining our strategy related to hosting business events in Joburg. This has resulted in better understanding, collaboration and sharing of information crucial to the ranking process. So a big thank you to all involved, it’s onwards and upward from here on,” she says excitedly.
Joburg has been fortunate to host major local and international gatherings, which at the end has increased the economical spin-offs for both the City and the country, although figures on job creation still remain unconfirmed.
Such news firmly places the City as one of the most visited in terms of tourist destinations.
In partnership with various stakeholders and the Johannesburg’s Department of Economic Development, JTC has mapped out plans to host bigger and better conventions in future as part of the city’s 2040 strategy, which outlines the growth of Johannesburg over the next three decades into a sustainable, prosperous and resilient place to live and work. It aims to not only attract new investment into the city, but support existing businesses and help them to expand.
Amongst, others the City is organizing the first Buy Sell Invest Visit Conference and Expo in June 2013 whose objective is to bring together people from the BRICS and Southern African Development Community blocs to partner with private and public organisations.
Mangcu further reiterated that:” Such initiatives help in further strengthening our position to the outside world that the city is on course to deliver good product.”
ICCA’s network of over 950 suppliers to the international meetings industry spans the globe, with members in 88 countries.
Attempt to obtain comment from the Department of Economic Development proved futile.
