In a bid to position the Eastern Cape as a leading Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) destination, the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA), together with the Nelson Mandela Bay Convention Bureau (NMBCB), is driving a collaborative initiative alongside Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, Kouga Municipality, and the South African National Convention Bureau (SANCB). The focus is to fast-track the inclusion of smaller towns and rural communities into South Africa’s broader business events value chain.
As part of this effort, the province successfully participated in the Business Events Support Programme, which took place in Buffalo City and Nelson Mandela Bay in early June 2025. The programme created valuable opportunities for local destinations to access national event funding, forge important industry connections, and position themselves for increased business tourism activity. It also brought together a network of stakeholders from national, provincial, and metropolitan levels to collectively assess the Eastern Cape’s infrastructure and capacity to host national and international business gatherings.
Through the Business Events Support Programme, managed by SANCB, the Eastern Cape Convention Bureau continues to serve as a critical connector for local destinations, particularly those with developing infrastructure and growing tourism potential, to access national support and industry exposure.
