Phokeng village, near Rustenburg in the North West province, is the second small town to win the bid to host a national association meeting as part of the South Africa National Convention Bureau’s (SANCB) newly launched National Association Project.
Phokeng will host the Environmental Assessment Practitioners Association of South Africa (EAPASA) strategic conference at the Thaba Legae Guest Lodge on October 28 and 29.
Phokeng is the capital of the Royal Bafokeng nation and home to the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
The conference follows on from the 10th Annual Girls and Bafana Friendly Society conference that took place in Xhariep District Municipality in the Free State from September 30 to October 2.
The National Association Project aims to spread the economic benefits of hosting, conferences and meetings in smaller towns and villages. Through the project, the SANCB identified 27 villages, townships and small dorpies to host national association meetings and conferences.
Chief Convention Bureau Officer of the SANCB, Amanda Kotze-Nhlapo, said: “Events and conferences help to capture attention and promote attractions. They make it possible to maximise the use of certain spaces and rationalise the need to visit certain places.”
According to her, through hosting events and conferences, smaller destinations can attract not only tourists but also investment. “The tourism industry that supports events generates employment and economic diversification.”
Acting Chief Executive Officer of North West Tourism Authority, Adv Mothusi Tsineng, said: “The North West province is delighted to host EAPASA’s conference. This will further add the necessary impetus in our efforts of recalibrating the entire tourism ecosystem while putting the spotlight back on the MICE sector, which has suffered immensely under the yoke of COVID-19 pandemic.”
The SANCB is a business unit of SA Tourism and is mandated to market South Africa as a preferred destination to host meetings, conventions, conferences and trade exhibitions, big or small.
