REUTERS
Leko Nkabinde, conference director of the Sports and Events Tourism Exchange (Sete), with Sugen Pillay, general manger of Thebe Exhibitions and Projects Group, Alison Truter, and Nzuki Nombembe of the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sports Sector Education and Training Authority at the Durban ICC.
In the years before the 2010 World Cup, Durban was marketed as Africa’s sports and events capital. The city still has that goal in mind as it hosts the Sports and Events Tourism Exchange (Sete) from today until Friday.
The event was first hosted in Cape Town last July and organised by Thebe Exhibitions and Projects Group in association with SA Tourism. Last year Durban won hosting rights to the event for the next three years.
Sete’s new partners include the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sports Sector Education and Training Authority, the SA Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), the eThekwini Municipality and the SABC.
Globally, sports-event tourism is worth about $600 billion (R4.9 trillion). SA’s sports tourism industry is estimated to have contributed more than R6bn to the economy last year, which works out to a tiny share of the global industry.
SA, through the tourism industry and Sascoc, wants to increase the country’s share of global sports tourism. Together with the national Department of Sport, it is expected to reveal a 17-year plan to attract major sporting events to the country during Sete.
The event comprises a high-level conference and exhibition at the Durban International Convention Centre. It starts tonight with a gala dinner honouring Durban’s London 2012 Olympic champion Chad le Clos and other sports stars. Booking for the dinner is open to the public and multiple SA Music Award winner Lira will perform live.
Director for business development at Thebe Exhibitions Sugen Pillay said this year’s Sete edition, as the only trade show of its kind in southern Africa, was expected to eclipse the inaugural event in terms of size, scope and efficacy.
“The conference and exhibition are intended to promote the country as a popular sports and events destination by facilitating relationships between SA’s tourism, sport and event industries.
KZN Economic Development and Tourism MEC Michael Mabuyakhulu said SA and Africa needed an event of this nature, as they were becoming more attractive destinations for major events.
Durban KwaZulu-Natal Convention Bureau CEO James Seymour said the conference featured an excellent programme, including high-profile local and international speakers.
* To book a seat at the Sete 2012 gala dinner ticket, or for more information, visit www.sportsandevents.co.za or www.ucit.co.za. Also follow Sete on Facebook (SETE.ZA) and on Twitter @SETE_ZA
