By: Dale Munatswa

Sports and Events Tourism Exchange (SETE) sponsors and officials expressed high hopes for the city of Durban as the 4th annual SETE conference begun.

The aspirations were shared at the official opening of the 2 day conference at the Ushaka Marine World on Wednesday.

According to Rene Stack, General manager of the conference, SETE is an initiative that was set up 4 years ago. It aims to mobilise South African sports and tourism to create a platform to launch and bid for events that can create more tourism, and jobs.

Speaker of the eThekwini municipality, Logie Naidoo said that he has witnessed the results of the conference and it will be fruitful.

“We have definitely seen the fruits of the SETE and I hope it will be productive,” said Naidoo.

During the first session of the SETE conference, local tourism and sports delegates endorsed the city’s bid to host the 2022 Common Wealth Games.

Head of the Department of Culture Nonhlanhla Qhobosheane, explained the importance of the conference in creating a diversity of opportunities for the city.

Qhobosheane said, ” The games will provide opportunities to the provincial economy at different levels. When people come to attend the games it provides opportunities for investors, and employment of the local people.”

The SETE conference and exhibition ran until the 30th of October. It’s main aim was to provide a platform for interaction between key players in the tourism and sport industries,  to see where they can work together in order to prepare for the 2022 CWG, should they be held in Durban.