The uneven geography of business tourism in South Africa

Business tourism is a vital element of the global tourism economy. Its importance has not, however, been matched by research attention by tourism scholars, including geographers. Against a review of international debates in business tourism scholarship, this paper analyses the changing geography of business tourism in South Africa, one of Africa's most significant destinations for international and domestic business travel. The changing geographical landscape of business tourism is unpacked through a demand-side analysis which is an important gap in existing tourism geographical work, mainly dominated by supply-side studies about the provision of convention centres or conference venues. The results reinforce the special significance of business tourism for tourism development in certain of the country's major urban centres.