Acting chief executive officer of the Johannesburg Tourism Company Eddy Khosa has been appointed chairman of the South African Meetings Industry Federation (SAMIF), a driver of the business tourism industry in South Africa.
Formed in September 2004, SAMIF discusses strategic areas of mutual interest in the industry, such as affiliation to associate international bodies like the International Congress and Convention Association, skills development, safety and security and bid procedures.
Khosa says: "I look forward to leading the broader industry in South Africa, to make it grow and climb the ladder of preferred business tourism destinations in the world. However, the industry has to work at this collectively, in close cooperation with South African Tourism and the provincial tourism authorities."
Khosa is a member of the global committee of Destination Marketing Association International, the world's largest association of convention and visitor bureaus, which has 1 300 members in over 600 destinations in some 30 countries.
He says his priorities as SAMIF chairman will include identifying greater opportunities for the South African business tourism industry within the global arena and closing the gaps in the industry in terms of transformation.
Khosa applauds former ceo Rick Taylor and SAMIF members such as Carol Weaving for what has already been achieved in the relatively short time that SAMIF has been in existence: "They have established an excellent foundation from which SAMIF can now build on. I look forward to working with and receiving invaluable input from the various organisations within SAMIF."
