Joburg hosts top global bankers
07 April 2016
Sandton – Africa’s richest square mile – drew hundreds of bankers from all corners of the globe this week for the International Chamber of Commerce’s Banking Commission, the first time this annual meeting is held on African soil.
Staged at the Sandton Convention Centre under the theme: “Trade and Supply Chain Finance: Enabling New Trade Corridors In and With Africa”, the two-day gathering attracted more than 400 delegates from the financial and banking services sectors in more than 65 countries.
Joburg Tourism’s Laura Vercueil said the Joburg Convention Bureau’s bid to bring the ICC’s Banking Commission to Johannesburg was a strategic move aimed at showcasing the City’s business offerings, heightening its status as Africa’s commercial hub and encouraging business links and the knowledge economy. Joburg Tourism is the City of Johannesburg’s tourism entity.
“Bringing international professionals from the banking and financial sector to Johannesburg not only enhances our local knowledge economy but it also provides us with a valuable opportunity to highlight offerings and further our domestic tourism campaign under the theme: ‘Welcome to Jozi – Make a Visitor’s Day Today’,” said Vercueil.
The delegates also visited Joburg Tourism’s exhibition stand to learn more about Johannesburg and its melting pot of offerings.
“The delegates also took advantage of the opportunity to, among other things, visited the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the biggest in Africa. This and other short tours further cemented the City’s status as a global business and events destination,” Vercueil said.
According to MasterCard’s Global Destination Cities Index, Johannesburg is ranked the highest in Africa in terms of international visitor expenditure, which totalled $3.2 billion in 2014.
“Of the total number of foreign business visitors who arrive in Gauteng, Joburg’s market share is the greatest of all regions as it attracts 82.4% of all foreign business professionals and 73.8% of all business events delegates. Travellers attending business events in Joburg mostly stay in paid-for accommodation and undertake pre- or post-conference tours or day trips to explore Johannesburg and its surrounding areas,” said Vercueil.
According to the World Travel and Tourism Council, business travellers spend up to three times more than leisure travellers when visiting a country. Follow Joburg Tourism’s domestic tourism campaign on Twitter at #Welcome2Jozi and log onto www.joburgtourism.com for tips and suggestions on what to do in Johannesburg.