We are a few weeks away from a year of experiencing this life changing pandemic, for many it has personally taken its toll, and professionally we have witnessed the effects on Members and Member businesses.
The efforts by government to accelerate the vaccine roll-out is noted and we will continue to urge that our industry plays its community role in aiding government with this important citizen project.
In welcoming the announcement last night by President Cyril Ramaphosa on the extension of the UIF/TERS support for sectors that have been severely hit by the pandemic until 15 March 2021. SAACI notes that more needs to be done to support the Business Events Sector in its’ recovery.
SAACI is therefore meeting with the SANCB on Monday 22nd February 2021 to explore how we can roll-out a dedicated plan that has been under discussion these past weeks. A follow-up meeting with the Minister of Tourism’s Working Team takes place on Thursday, 4th March 2021. Both these meetings will deal with the present challenges such as improved clarity on:
- Regulations – SAACI is urging that we move to a 50% capacity for Business Events. We cannot continue under the current 50 pax indoors and 100 pax outdoors.
- Separation of Business Events out of the gatherings.
- Building demand for the Business Events Sector in getting Government and Private Sector to start in-person meetings
- The Business Events input into the Norms and Standards that the Minister of Tourism wishes to have gazetted this year.
Feedback on the outcomes of the forthcoming meetings will be shared with members.
You may also review the Industry Pulse Survey we did towards the end of 2020. A synopsis of the outcomes can be found by clicking this link.
WESGRO have engaged SAACI on how we can host a Venue Safety Training session for members in the Western Cape. With the SAACI Western Cape Branch, who will lead with the roll-out, we will share more information once we have the dates and schedule confirmed.
As planning continues for the SAACI National Congress in April 2021, we are calling on members to TELL US YOUR STORY. We want you to tell us your story of how you have been dealing with this pandemic and how as a #community we can help each other push through all the challenges we had faced. So, we are calling on you and your teams to contact us should you wish to TELL US YOUR Story and be part of this year’s Congress programme.
You can contact Alshanthe at members@saaci.org
Continue to keep safe,
The SAACI TEAM
