Following on the announcement at WTM Africa 2017 that Africa Travel Week is collaborating with the established Sports & Events Tourism Exchange (SETE), foundations are being firmly laid to bring about a successful and fruitful event for 2018.
SETE 2018 aims to educate and create discussions around bidding and hosting major international events, promote and grow local events. The SETE conference will attract global and local experts in event tourism and is expected to lay the foundation that will allow African countries, stakeholders and suppliers to develop international events strategies.
Chardonnay Marchesi, South African Portfolio Director for Reed Exhibitions’ Africa Travel Week, says of the event: “SETE is the only event of its kind in Southern Africa and provides a platform that brings together businesses from the sports, events and tourism industries. In 2018, SETE will host its seventh edition and with it, a number of buyers that have successfully brought events to Africa in the past.”
Sports tourism has been recognized by UNWTO as the fastest growing tourism sector contributing more than 450 billion euros globally in 2014. There is a gap in the market to provide local event organisers and sports industry stakeholders with a platform to showcase their services and network amongst their peers. Leveraging off the WTM Africa platform, these suppliers can ensure they are maximising any tourism opportunities around sporting events.
Marchesi furthers: “The platform has consistently encouraged collaboration between the sports, events and tourism sectors. The need for these sectors to co-exist is becoming critical, and certainly, influences the broader economy of the country.”
For more information visit www.reedexpoafrica.co.za
