Significant interest from Jamaican International Hosted Buyers at SETE exhibition

September 13, 2012

The 2nd annual Sports and Events Tourism Exchange (SETE) exhibition and conference (12 – 14 September), denture which kicked off yesterday at the ICC Durban, has attracted the interest of forty-six high profile International Hosted Buyers (IHB) from Jamaica, Brazil, India, France, America, as well as a number of other countries. As part of SETE’s dynamic and progressive IHB programme, the international buyers who will be attending the event will be introduced to the world class infrastructure that South Africa has to offer, in terms of stadia, venues and the well established services and supply chains of the sports and tourism industries.

Both the SETE exhibition and conference are tasked with promoting South Africa as a popular sports and events destination, with the eighty-six exhibitors who are showcasing their products and services at the event also looking to maximise their opportunity to access the influential international visitors as a means of gaining a footing in the sports tourism industry. Don Leffler (Director of Community Development Initiatives International), who was instrumental in attracting the Jamaican IHB’s to the event, said “as one of a number of South African tourism specialists who visited Jamaica in February to share learnings on Community Based Tourism, we were received by the South African High Commissioner to the Caribbean, Her Excellency Mathu Joyini, and also met with the Ministers of Tourism and of Trade and Commerce. During our discussions it became clear that there was a real interest and desire to introduce Sport and Culture Exchange Tours and Study Programmes between our countries”.

Through the tireless work of Joyini, who has worked hard at building closer relationships between Jamaica and South Africa, five Jamaican sports specialists accepted invitations to attended this year’s SETE exhibition and conference as international hosted buyers. According to Leffler, “their visit will add impetus to the work being done by South Africa’s Department of International Relations and our High Commissioner in Jamaica, aimed at building closer tourism, sport, cultural and business/trade relationships for mutual benefit, using sport and tourism as a catalyst for sustainable social and economic benefits”.

Also attending SETE 2012 as international hosted buyers will be a delegation from Brazil, represented by upper echelon  administrators from Brazil’s top soccer team, Palmeiras FC, an important connection in light of the global events that Brazil will be hosting in the years to come, namely the FIFA World Cup in 2014, and the 2016 Olympic Games. Jair Jussio, Director at Palmeiras FC, will be one of many high-profile guests at tonight’s SETE 2012 Gala Dinner, which will also see the like of Olympic gold and silver medallist Chad le Clos, multiple-SAMA winner Lira and Miss SA Melinda Bam celebrating the inspirational performances of the South African Olympic Team at London 2012. As a token of goodwill between the Brazilian delegation and their South African hosts, a Palmeiras FC jersey with the name “Fikile” printed on it was accepted by SASCOC President Gideon Sam on behalf of South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Fikile Mbalula, at last night’s star-studded Gala Dinner.

James Seymour, CEO of Durban Kwa-Zulu Natal Convention Bureau, said that “attracting international buyers to SETE 2012 is the key component to achieving our goal of promoting South Africa as a destination for international mega events, as well as further entrenching the country as the preferred location for sports and tourism activities for both local and international travellers. As a country we are able to offer top class facilities and services, making South Africa a prime location for all top-level international sports events and concerts”.

For more information, visit www.sportsandevents.co.za, like ‘SETE.ZA’ on Facebook, and follow @SETE_ZA on Twitter. SETE supports the inaugural South African Travel and Tourism Industry Conference (SATTIC, 2 – 4 September), a combined initiative of member associations of the Tourism Business Council of South Africa (TBCSA).

The Sports and Events Tourism Exchange is hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, partnered by CATHSSETA, SASCOC and Tourism KZN, and supported by Springbok Atlas, SAA and SABC.