South Africa invites Pune to discover its world-class MICE and leisure offerings
Corporate Think Tank, Pune
The event welcomed over 25 corporate leaders and provided a unique opportunity to exchange ideas and explore new avenues for collaboration.
South African Tourism continues the fifth edition of its flagship corporate engagement initiative, ‘Corporate Think Tank’, with Pune as the third stop of this leg.
As part of a four-city series, the initiative is designed to build stronger connections between South African Tourism and India’s corporate sector. Through thought-provoking discussions, immersive destination showcases, and interactive networking sessions, Corporate Think Tank’ serves as a strategic platform to spotlight South Africa’s growing appeal as a premier destination for business events, MICE, and leisure travel.
“The Corporate Think Tank serves as a strategic platform for us to engage directly with India’s corporate leaders and gain deeper insights into their evolving travel priorities,” said Gcobani Mancotywa, Regional General Manager – Asia, Australia, and Middle East, South African Tourism. “We are delighted to bring this initiative to Pune, a city known for its strong presence in IT, manufacturing, automotive, and emerging innovation-led enterprises. The discussions here have been both insightful and forward-looking, reaffirming Pune’s growing importance as a source market for South Africa’s MICE segment. As India continues to be among our fastest-growing markets, we remain committed to building meaningful corporate partnerships and welcoming an increasing number of business events and incentive groups from Pune to South Africa.”
With 47% of India’s population currently aged 15 to 54, MICE is projected to rise to 60% by 2025 and 56% by 2050 corporate spending on overseas events, expanding infrastructure, and enhanced global connectivity are set to propel India into a global MICE powerhouse, positioning South Africa as a natural and compelling partner in this upward journey. This growth is fueled by India’s booming outbound travel market, the world’s second fastest growing after China, driven by a youthful and educated population, a rising middle class, and increasing disposable incomes.
