South Africa unveils new business tourism web site.

South African Tourism has launched its new Business Tourism website with the site accessed at www.southafrica.net/businesstourism.

Their new Business Tourism site is highly interactive with robust search functionality and has been designed from the point of view of the prospective user, who include meeting planners, professional conference organisers, in-house corporate meeting and event planners, Government, destination management companies and association management companies.

Angeline Lue, General Manager, Business Tourism at South African Tourism said,  “Our new site has been designed to meet the demand for current and relevant information and to equip the trade to better sell South African as a Business Tourism destination.“

The feature rich website will be made operational in two phases. Phase one of the website will feature the following:

** Product information through a search tool on a range of relevant elements including our world-class venues and accommodation choices, activities and attractions, news, events, testimonials and case studies.

** Details of the unique Business Unusual proposition that allows planners to include single or multiple elements of management concepts indigenous to South Africa with universal application to events and meetings. Examples include using drumming as a team building exercise to pairing international captains of industry with their South African counterparts and/or using local cultural concepts like ubuntu (respect for the dignity of all and an emphasis on partnerships).

** Resources such as online brochures, presentations, activities and itineraries as well as the capability to customise itineraries.

** Tools such as a currency calculator, e-brochures and maps.

** An events calendar and quarterly newsletters.

** Industry contact information.

** Searches via three methods: keyword, location and an interactive map.

“The internet is one of the most important research tools for our target segments as there is a continual trend towards online destination information sourcing,” says Lue, adding, “We are very excited about the search optimisation and the easy-to-use navigation.”

“Phase two will focus on the creation of easy-to-use wizards for professional conference organisers and meeting planners, and another wizard for incentive houses.”

“These will provide them with a set of tools and guides to put together plans, itineraries and motivations for holding their meeting or event in South Africa, with Phase two scheduled for launch in September this year.”

Report by The Mole