By A'eysha Kassiem

Business tourism in Cape Town and the Western Cape is booming, with more than half of Africa's conference business secured by the city and the province.

That's the word from Finance and Tourism MEC Lynne Brown at the Opening of Congress Year on Wednesday, that aims to profile the city and the province as a business tourism destination.

The project is a combined effort between the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) and Cape Town Routes Unlimited.

'Enormous growth potential for the Western Cape'

"The business tourism industry contributes an estimated R20-billion per year to South Africa's GDP. This represents around a quarter of a million jobs, with R6bn being paid in salaries each year and more than R4bn in taxes.

"Here in the Western Cape, we are privileged to have a wealth of facilities available (for) this expanding market.

"We are Africa's fastest growing business tourism destination ... and claim some 60 percent of all conference business in Africa," said Brown.

She said conference delegates were attracted to the city because of the infrastructure, competitive pricing and high standards of service, among other things.

The CTICC had already hosted 750 events since it opened three years ago - of which more than 300 were international conferences.

This year would also see several international medical and scientific conferences in the city.

"When one considers that the average business visitor spends as much as three times more money than his or her leisure counterpart, it's clear that this sector holds enormous growth potential for the Western Cape.

"Growing this sector will help create a more sustainable industry offering more sustainable employment opportunities, as well as generating income in excess of R1 200 per delegate per day."

Brown said over the past two years, Cape Town had jumped 17 positions on the International Congress and Convention Association's (ICCA) global rankings. It is now in 30th place and is on par with destinations like Sydney, Vancouver and
Glascow.

Cape Town Routes Unlimited CEO Noki Dube said: "Being a world class destination is one part of the solution, but for this very lucrative and intensely competitive market, the city and province is increasingly focusing its efforts on what it has to offer this high value business visitor."

• This article was originally published on page 7 of Cape Times on February 02, 2006